A Feminist Classic from the Early '70s

By JudySyfers

I belong to that classification of people known as wives-I am A Wife. And, not altogether incidentally, I am a mother. Not too long ago a male friend of mine appeared on the scene fresh from a recent divorce. He had one child, who is, of course, with his ex-wife. He is obviously looking for another wife. As I thought about him while I was ironing one evening, it suddenly occurred to me that I, too, would like to have a wife. Why do I want a wife? I would like to go back to school. And I want a wife who will work and send me to school. And while I am going to school, I want a wife to take care of the children. I want a wife to make sure my children eat properly and are kept clean. I want a wife who will wash the children's clothes and keep them mended, who arranges for their schooling, takes them to the park, the zoo, et cetera. I want a wife who takes care of the children when they are sick, a wife who arranges to be around when the children need special care, because, of course, I cannot miss classes at school. Needless to say, my wife must arrange to lose time at work and not lose the job. It may mean a small cut in my wife's income from time to time, but I guess I can tolerate that.

I want a wife to take care of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after me. I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be. I want a wife who is a good cook. I want a wife to plan the menus, do the necessary shopping, prepare the meals, serve them pleasantly, and then do the cleaning up while I do my studying. I want a wife who will care of me when I am sick and sympathize with my pain and loss of time from school.

I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complaints about a wife's duties. But I want a wife who will listen to me when I feel the need to explain a rather difficult point I have come across in my course of studies. And I want a wife who will type my papers for me when I have written them.

And I want a wife who knows that sometimes I need a night out by myself. But I want a wife who understands that my sexual needs may entail more than strict adherence to monogamy. I must, after all, be able to relate to people as fully as possible.

If I happen to find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one. Naturally, as I expect a fresh, new life, my wife will have to take the children and be solely responsible for them so that I am left free.

When I am through with school and have a job, I want my wife to quit working and remain at home so that my wife can more fully and completely take care of a wife's duties.

My God, who wouldn't want a wife?

Ex. 511.Read the poem and learn it Comment on the Infinitives

What Is This Life?

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare? No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows; No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass; No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night; No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance; No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began? A poor life is this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

W. H. Davies

Ex. 512.Translate into English

1. Вот программа, которую нужно утвердить. 2. Это книга, которую нужно прочитать. 3. У него потряса ющая новость, которую он расскажет вам. 4. Поверь те, вам нечего бояться. 5. Мне о столь многом нужно подумать. 6. Нельзя терять время. Нужно принять решение. 7. Есть несколько факсов, на которые необ­ходимо ответить сейчас же. 8. Это — платье, которое любую женщину сделает красивой. 9. Дэвид не тот человек, который может осчастливить женщину. 10. У нас долгая жизнь, которой нужно наслаждаться.

11. Давай поищем место, где мы могли бы перекусить. 12. У него три сына, которых нужно вырастить. 13. Он первый угадал их намерения. 14. Почему это я все­гда все узнаю последним? 15. Он не тот человек, кото­рый может вас подвести. 16. Им предстоял долгий путь. 17. У них не было желания спорить. 18. Аме­лия чувствовала потребность высказаться. 19. Она сделала отчаянную попытку освободиться. 20. — Ты будешь выступать следующим? — Нет, я буду высту­пать последним.