In "The Book of Eve", Eva Caroll discovers a new sense of herself after leaving her husband who, although not cruel, has
been an oppressive force in her life. In many respects, Eva's
marriage was an accurate portrayal of marriage in the 1950s-1970s period. To a large extent, the institution of marriage still has not really changed. There is, to be sure, more opportunity for
women today in the public sphere, which has empowered women to an extent within marriage and within divorce. Indeed, with an increased ability to get an education and earn their own money, women have more leeway in their decision-making. Nonetheless, the institutions of marriage and the nuclear family continue ato force severe constraints on women in general, as does the capitalist system within which they exist.