Why is the Decision Made to never Properly End this Marriage?
Their marriage in this sense, after the introduction of the queer elements, gets put in a limbo state. Separation or divorce would likely be most beneficial to them as this love that they could have had is definitely no more, at least not in the way that it was, but there is no definitive separation of the two characters in the poem; there is only increased distance between them. This begs the question of why they do not cut their losses and go on to different prospects, and according to research conducted by the Institute for American Values, “marital endurance ethic appears to play a big role.” Though individual scenarios admittedly play a big role in the research of this topic, spouses reported that their marriages got better due to them “stubbornly outlasting [problems].” That seems to be the case with what is happening here; the husband is not fully embracing queer identity, and if he is, he is doing it in a way that does a hash disservice to his wife. Conversely, the wife, not being treated properly or the same as she once was, al;so does not sever this marriage and instead opts to fight for its survival.
In ‘The Witch-Bride,’ Allingham explores push-back against the heteronormative marriage and queer exploration, but this comes at the expense of the adultery through which it occurs making queerness an antagonistic force rather than a benevolent one. In the choice to not separate the main characters, we can only infer that they remain together, the man still unhappy and fearful of the woman he married, asn she stuck to his side. Though separation is an easy and logical solution, it not happening forces us to wonder if queer representation is worth it at all f it is only negative– and if so, who is it serving? Further, is an exploration of queerness that only tackles negative aspects an exploration of queerness at all?