Marital Conversations: Using Privacy to Negotiate Marital Conflicts in Adam Eyre’s Diary, 1647–1649

Abstract

Embracing private conversations as tools for conflict resolution, this chapter dissects a particular case of marital dispute in “Using Privacy to Negotiate Marital Conflicts in Adam Eyre’s Diary, 1614–1661”. This chapter retraces the role of privacy in the marital conflict documented in Yorkshireman Adam Eyre’s diary, “A Dyurnall, or catalogue of all my accions and expenses”, which survives for the years 1647–1649. His diary allows us to investigate their conflict, but also their joint attempts to resolve it. In various conversations, they discussed current disputes. Simon argues that the privacy of their household provided a protective space for negotiation, which allowed neglecting, bending, or adapting contemporary gender roles or norms of marital conduct.