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Objection 1: It would seem that husband and wife are not equal in
the marriage act. For according to Augustine (Gen. ad lit. xii)
the agent is more noble than the patient. But in the marriage act the
husband is as agent and the wife as patient. Therefore they are not
equal in that act.
Objection 2: Further, the wife is not bound to pay her husband the
debt without being asked; whereas he is so bound, as stated above
(Articles 1,2). Therefore they are not equal in the marriage
act.
Objection 3: Further, the woman was made on the man's account in
reference to marriage according to Gn. 2:18, "Let us make him a
help like unto himself." But that on account of which another thing
is, is always the principal. Therefore, etc.
Objection 4: Further, marriage is chiefly directed to the marriage
act. But in marriage "the husband is the head of the wife" (Eph.
5:23). Therefore they are not equal in the aforesaid act.
On the contrary, It is written (1 Cor. 7:4): "The husband
. . . hath not power of his own body," and the same is said of the
wife. Therefore they are equal in the marriage act.
Further, Marriage is a relation of equiparence, since it is a kind
of union, as stated above (Question 44, Articles 1,3).
Therefore husband and wife are equal in the marriage act.
I answer that, Equality is twofold, of quantity and of proportion.
Equality of quantity is that which is observed between two quantities
of the same measure, for instance a thing two cubits long and another
two cubits in length. But equality of proportion is that which is
observed between two proportions of the same kind as double to double.
Accordingly, speaking of the first equality, husband and wife are not
equal in marriage; neither as regards the marriage act, wherein the
more noble part is due to the husband, nor as regards the household
management, wherein the wife is ruled and the husband rules. But with
reference to the second kind of equality, they are equal in both
matters, because just as in both the marriage act and in the management
of the household the husband is bound to the wife in all things
pertaining to the husband, so is the wife bound to the husband in all
things pertaining to the wife. It is in this sense that it is stated
in the text (Sent. iv, D, 32) that they are equal in paying and
demanding the debt.
Reply to Objection 1: Although it is more noble to be active than
passive, there is the same proportion between patient and passivity as
between agent and activity; and accordingly there is equality of
proportion between them.
Reply to Objection 2: This is accidental. For the husband having
the more noble part in the marriage act, it is natural that he should
be less ashamed than the wife to ask for the debt. Hence it is that
the wife is not bound to pay the debt to her husband without being
asked, whereas the husband is bound to pay it to the wife.
Reply to Objection 3: This proves that they are not equal
absolutely, but not that they are not equal in proportion.
Reply to Objection 4: Although the head is the principal member,
yet just as the members are bound to the head in their own respective
capacities, so is the head in its own capacity bound to the members:
and thus there is equality of proportion between them.
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