Co Eliza Orzeszkowa pisała o małżeństwie w "Pamiętniku Wacławy. Ze wspomnień młodej panny" i "Marcie"

This article focuses on the analysis of the issue of marriage amongst the landed gentry in nineteenth-century Poland as depicted in two novels by Eliza Orzeszkowa: "Pamiętnik Wacławy. Ze wspomnień młodej panny" (Wacława’s Memoirs: From the Memories of a Young Lady) and "Marta". The article examines how the images of marriage presented by the author show young women’s dependence on the will of the family and the decisions of their intended husbands. The analysis of these two novels aims to outline the traditional models of marriage prevailing at that time and to show what challenges and difficulties the heroines must go through in their lives. The images of marriage presented in the novels allow us to explore the complexity of the relationships between partners and to understand their social, cultural and psychological context. The article analyses the social context of such marriages, which often served to maintain the social and economic position of the relative families, as well as their impact on the lives of individuals, especially women, who were often deprived of independence and subordinated to men. The analysis of these topics allows for a better understanding of the socio-cultural realities of the period and reflection on the evolution of the institution of marriage and its role in the history of Polish society.