Marriages: Haydn, Wagner, Socrates

Talk about Joseph Haydn's marriage

Franz Joseph Haydn, a prominent composer of the Classical period, had a notoriously unhappy marriage. He was married to Maria Anna Theresia Keller on November 26, 1760.

Haydn had initially been in love with Maria Anna's sister, Therese, but she chose to become a nun. Out of obligation, he then married her older sister Maria Anna. Haydn's marriage was one of his personal life's great hardships. Maria Anna was reportedly uninterested in music, had a bad temper, and did not get along with Haydn.

Haydn described his wife as a 'hellish wife' and 'a bane to me my whole life'. Their life together was so unhappy that they did not have any children and chose to live separately for much of their married life. Maria Anna reportedly used Haydn's compositions for such mundane tasks as lining cake pans or curling her hair, indicating her disregard for his musical achievements.

It should be noted that due to the norms and laws of the time, divorce was not an option for them. Despite his troubled marriage, Haydn was able to create an impressive body of work which included 104 symphonies, numerous string quartets, and various other compositions. He died in 1809, outliving his wife who passed away in 1800.

Talk about Richard Wagner's marriage

Richard Wagner, the German composer known for his operas and dramatic works, had two marriages in his lifetime.

His first wife was Minna Planer, an actress whom he married in 1836. Their marriage was tumultuous and fraught with difficulties. Wagner had numerous affairs, was often in debt, and his career had many ups and downs. Minna was a stabilizing influence, helping to manage his finances and career, but she was not a fan of his music and didn't fully understand his artistic aspirations. Despite their difficulties, they stayed married until Minna's death in 1866, although they lived separately for long periods.

Wagner's second marriage was to Cosima von Bülow, the illegitimate daughter of Franz Liszt and Marie d'Agoult. Cosima was previously married to Hans von Bülow, a prominent conductor and early supporter of Wagner's music. Cosima and Wagner began an affair while she was still married to Bülow, and they had two children together before she finally divorced Bülow. Wagner and Cosima got married in 1870.

The marriage with Cosima seems to have been a more fulfilling one for Wagner. Cosima was dedicated to Wagner's music and did much to promote his work. Their marriage lasted until Wagner's death in 1883. After his death, Cosima dedicated herself to preserving and promoting Wagner's legacy, leading the Bayreuth Festival, which is dedicated to performing Wagner's operas, for more than 20 years.

Talk about Socrates's marriage

Socrates, the classical Greek philosopher, was married to Xanthippe. Although not much is known about Xanthippe's background, she is a character in several ancient texts where she is typically portrayed as a shrewish, nagging wife.

Their relationship is said to have been quite contentious. Xanthippe is often depicted as being of a harsh and argumentative nature, a stark contrast to Socrates' stoic demeanor. However, it is worth mentioning that these depictions may be influenced by the gender stereotypes of the time and the intention to underline Socrates' patience and ability to deal with any hardship.

There is an anecdote that, when someone asked Socrates why he chose to live with such a difficult woman, he replied that just as those who wish to become good horsemen do not choose the most docile horses but rather those with spirit, so by managing to live with Xanthippe he could deal with anyone else.

Socrates and Xanthippe had three sons: Lamprocles, Sophroniscus, and Menexenus. Despite the depictions of Xanthippe in literature, it is clear that Socrates valued his marriage. In Plato's dialogue 'Phaedo', which depicts Socrates' final hours before his execution, Xanthippe is shown as a grieving wife, indicating the affection between them.

It's worth noting that some modern scholars argue that the picture of Xanthippe as a shrew may have been exaggerated by later sources and might not be a fair representation of her actual character. As with many aspects of Socrates' life, his marriage is a subject of ongoing debate and speculation.