History Main / UnableToSupportAWife

As-is it's a ForgottenTrope in modern 21st-century settings, but can be played with the twist that it's the woman's ''own job'' that pays better than the man's leading to his insecurity in his manhood.

* The Pocket Circuit subplot from ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}} Kiwami'' is centered around this; [[LargeHamAnnouncer Pocket Circuit Fighter]] has finally found a girl he likes, but her family is rather old fashioned and doesn't think a minimum wage announcer for a child's racing game is a good match for their daughter. The Fighter is looking to retire and inherit his family's tofu business, but rather than shut down the Pocket Circuit track he asks Kiryu to find someone to take his place as Pocket Circuit Fighter.

* In ''Film/OurMissBrooks'', [[TheMovie the cinematic]] {{grand finale]}} of the series of the same name, Mr. Boynton is hoping for an increase in salary so he'll be able to marry (and support) fellow teacher Miss Brooks. [[spoiler:It turns out to unnecessary. Mr. Boynton buys a house and marries Miss Brooks, although he doesn't receive the promotion in the film.]]

* In ''Film/OurMissBrooks'', the [[TheMovie the cinematic]] [[GrandFinale grand finale]] of the series of the same name, Mr. Boynton is hoping for an increase in salary so he'll be able to marry (and support) fellow teacher Miss Brooks. [[spoiler:It turns out to unnecessary. Mr. Boynton buys a house and marries Miss Brooks, although he doesn't receive the promotion in the film.]]

* Gender-inverted in ''VisualNovel/TheRoyalTrap'' due to its unique take on HeirClubForMen: while men rule, women inherit and pass control of their lands to their husbands, meaning that direct sons have no inheritance on their own and must marry into power. This is why protagonist Madeleine is initially so resistant to the idea of a ChildhoodFriendRomance with Oscar; as the second daughter of a minor noble house, she has no inheritance of her own to fall back on, and all of her income comes from Oscar's parents paying her to make their son worthy marriage material in the eyes of a princess. In most routes this results in Madeleine letting Oscar down gently, not wanting him to give up her entire future for her, but you can choose to [[ScrewDestiny pursue a romance with him]] and [[EarnYourHappyEnding eventually get a happy ending.]]

*** Played straight: Wickham's early attentions to Elizabeth are decried because they do not have money between them. Mrs. Gardiner warns Elizabeth not to get too close to Wickham because he won't be able to support a wife.

* Since the early 21st Century, a new social/economic class of people has emerged, known as the '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precariat precariat]]'. This class is commonly prone to 'involuntary celibacy' and other difficulties in maintaining relationships, due to the precarious employment situation of those who are a part of it. It is worth noting that [[EvolvingTrope this incarnation of the trope]] is hardly limited to men. In Japan such people are known as '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeter freeters]]' or '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivore_men herbivore men]].

As-is it's a ForgottenTrope in modern 21st century settings, but can be played with the twist that it's the woman's ''own job'' that pays better than the man's leading to his insecurity in his manhood.

* This trope was apparently still extant in TheSixties, since an early ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' issue had Peter try to negotiate steady (rather than freelance) employment out of J. Jonah Jameson so that he could afford to propose to his girlfriend. Neither the promotion nor the relationship ended up panning out, alas.

* In ''Film/TheMarryingKind'', Chet Keefer doesn’t have a job due do an injury, and his wife Florence has to get one. He of course, didn’t want her to, but there was nothing else they could do. Mind you, this is during the 1950s when the norm was that the husband holds the job while the wife manages household affairs.

*** In the BackStory, Wentworth had not saved anything from his naval career, which meant he was entirely relying on his position to enable him to marry. This is what led Lady Russell to talk Anne out of the engagement. In the current day of the novel, he has saved enough and is well-off. [[spoiler:Indeed, at the very end, he realizes that if he had written to Anne a year after their engagement was broken, when he had made a promising beginning to a fortune, they could have reconciled then.]]

-->''"But still, I am not without apprehensions of your being shortly obliged to degrade yourself in your own eyes by seeking a Support for your Wife in the Generosity of Sir Edward."''

** Scrooge berates his nephew Fred for getting married even though he wasn't exactly rolling in money. Fred's response, when asked why he got married anyway, was "[[MarryForLove Because I fell in love]]!" Two film adaptations - the 1910 silent Edison Studios version and the 1938 MGM version – take this further and have Fred in love but not married yet because he can't afford it. In the end of these versions, Scrooge makes Fred his business partner, which will let him earn enough to support a wife.

* At the end of ''Literature/TheCurseOfChalion'', [[HypercompetentSidekick Cazaril]], being [[ImpoverishedPatrician landless]] and having just been replaced as Iselle's secretary, cites this among a number of other protests when he is betrothed to the new Royina's lady in waiting Beatriz. Iselle simply points out that she is making the post of Chancellor a salaried position... [[ComicallyMissingThePoint whereupon Cazaril starts suggesting useful candidates]].

* Shows up a few times in Creator/RudyardKipling's short stories--particularly ''Plain Tales from the Hills'', explaining why a particular character came to [[UsefulNotes/TheRaj India]], or giving him additional motivation to distinguish himself there.

* In ''Jo's Boys'' by Louisa May Alcott, Daisy's mother Meg [[ParentalMarriageVeto opposes]] to Daisy marrying Nat because she fears he plays this trope straight, what with him being a poor orphan turned into struggling musician. Once Nat makes a name for himself in music, Meg relents.

* In ''Literature/AndThenThereWereNone'', this leads to the death of a child. You see, his governess was in love with the child's uncle, who was in this position because of the child's existence. With the child out of the way, the uncle would inherit the family fortune and be able to marry the governess. She did fail to factor in that the uncle genuinely loved his nephew....

* Kide, the protagonist of ''Literature/PavaneInPearlAndEmerald'', is unable to support a wife [[ImpoverishedPatrician in spite of being a lord]] at the Coral Palace. He's been trying to marry the princess for years before the book starts, since as an heiress the princess would be able to support herself and any children she has.

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* Gender-inverted in ''VisualNovel/TheRoyalTrap'' due to its unique take on HeirClubForMen: while men rule, women inherit and pass control of their lands to their husbands, meaning that direct sons have no inheritance on their own and must marry into power. This is why protagonist Madeleine is initially so resistant to the idea of a ChildhoodFriendRomance with Oscar; as the second daughter of a minor noble house, she has no inheritance of her own to fall back on, and all of her income comes from Oscar's parents paying her to make their son worthy marriage material in the eyes of a princess. In most routes this results in Madeleine letting Oscar down gently, not wanting him to give up her entire future for her, but you can choose to [[ScrewDestiny pursue romance with him]] and [[EarnYourHappyEnding eventually get a happy ending.]]

---> ''"How right you were to say that you're madly in love ! And I who recommended you to marry a rich woman ! After all, ''you'''re not rich."''

--> ''"Excuse me, General, but I am ! Aren't you my protector?"''

* Creator/JaneAusten's sister Cassandra was engaged to her father's former pupil Thomas Fowle. Fowle needed money to marry, so went to the Caribbean as chaplain with a military expedition. Unfortunately, Fowle died there of yellow fever in 1797. Cassandra inherited 1000 pounds from him (a sum that gave her some financial indenpendence), but she never married.

* In ''[[VideoGame/AmnesiaOtome Amnesia: Memories]]'', Spade World has the heroine's father cite that Ikki isn't a good match for his daughter because of this. Ikki politely informs him that he's a fourth-year university student, and already has a well-paid position ready to start in a rather well-known company upon graduating.

* Gender-inverted in ''VisualNovel/TheRoyalTrap'' due to its unique take on HeirClubForMen: while men rule, women inherit and pass control of their lands to their husbands, meaning that direct sons have no inheritance on their own and must marry into power. This is why protagonist Madeleine is initially so resistant to the idea of a ChildhoodFriendRomance with Oscar; as the second daughter of a minor noble house, she has no inheritance of her own to fall back on, and all of her income comes from Oscar's parents paying her to make their son worthy marriage material in the eyes of a princess. In most routes this results in Madeleine letting Oscar down gently, not wanting him to give up her entire future for her, but you can choose to [[ScrewDestiny pursue romance with him]] and [[EarnYourHappyEnding eventually get a happy ending.]]

** When General Junot told his friend UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte (who was then First Consul of the French Republic) of his desire to marry a charming but impoverished young lady, Bonaparte answered :

::However, Junot subverted this by answering :

* In Creator/CharlesDickens' ''Literature/ThePickwickPapers'', Pickwick, talking to his landlady, asks whether it's true that two can live as cheaply as one -- because he's thinking of hiring a manservant. She takes it as considering whether this trope applies and so a marriage proposal.

* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', women must have enough money to pay the sisters of one of the [[GenderRarityValue rare men]] the eponymous "Brother's Price", ''and'' support the husband. As all the sisters in a family usually share one husband, this is doable for most, but Jerin's former teacher is still overjoyed that she and her sisters can ''finally'' afford a husband.

* In Creator/RobinMcKinley's ''Literature/BeautyARetellingOfBeautyAndTheBeast'', Beauty's sister Hope is in love with a man who wants to leave the city and become a [[TheBlacksmith blacksmith]], which would never let him get money enough for a wealthy merchant's daughter. When their family is ruined, he pays his suit and tells her father that they can all come and live at the house he can get. (It helps that the girls' father likes him anyway, and might have consented to the match regardless.) Meanwhile, the other sister Grace's fiancé is a sailor who sets out on a voyage to make his fortune so he can better provide for her. Unfortunately, his ship goes down in the storm that destroys most of the merchant's fleet and he's [[NeverFoundTheBody presumed dead]], [[spoiler: until Beauty learns with help from the Beast that he's still alive]].

* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/ChroniclesOfChaos Titans of Chaos]]'', at the climax, [[spoiler:Victor reveals his love for Amelia; he had wanted to wait until he had more to offer than himself, but the danger is too great.]]

* Played with in ''Series/GilligansIsland''. A rather large native island girl wants to marry Gilligan. Before her parents approve, he must pass a series of tests, including demonstrating the ability to lift and carry her. He falls. She lands on top of him.
--> ''Gilligan'': (in a pained voice) Skipper... I don't think I'm going to be able to support this wife!

** In ''Literature/{{Persuasion}}'',

*** Also Charles Hayter is trying to secure a position to enable him to marry Henrietta.
*** Also, the reason Captain Benwick and Fanny Harville were still only engaged at the time of her death was that his promotion did not come before then. (Gender-inverted in RealLife, with the lost fiancé of Jane Austen's sister Cassandra.)
** In ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'', Colonel Brandon's generosity and a reconciliation with Edward's mother are needed for Edward and Elinor to marry.
** In ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'',
*** famously inverted from the opening line: inability to support a wife is the ''only'' acceptable motive for not marrying.
*** Also played straight: Wickham's early attentions to Elizabeth are decried because they do not have money between them. Mrs. Gardiner warns Elizabeth not to get too close to Wickham because he won't be able to support a wife.
*** Colonel Fitzwilliam is also careful not to let his friendship with her develop into anything more, for the same reason.
** In ''Literature/MansfieldPark'', Fanny's mother foolishly did not heed this, and their family life suffered as a consequence.
** In ''Literature/NorthangerAbbey'',
*** Isabella comments on the income that James's father could settle on them, and assures them it is just that she can not bear to think of her husband living on little.

** In ''Literature/LoveAndFreindship'', Edward's sister puts her thumb on the problem of his rash marriage.
-->''But still, I am not without apprehensions of your being shortly obliged to degrade yourself in your own eyes by seeking a Support for your Wife in the Generosity of Sir Edward''

* In ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'', Ebeneezer Scrooge initially didn't marry his girlfriend because he wasn't established yet in his career. After a few years, though, she became upset by his obsession with having enough money and left him.
** Earlier in the story, Scrooge berates his nephew, Fred, for getting married even though he wasn't exactly rolling in money. Fred's response, when asked why he got married anyway, was "[[MarryForLove Because I fell in love]]!" Two film adaptations - the 1910 silent Edison Studios version and the 1938 MGM version – take this further and have Fred in love but not married yet because he can't afford it. In the end of these versions, Scrooge makes Fred his business partner, which will let him earn enough to support a wife.

* At the end of ''Literature/TheCurseOfChalion'', [[spoiler:[[HypercompetentSidekick Cazaril]], being [[ImpoverishedPatrician landless]] and having just been replaced as Iselle's secretary, cites this among a number of other protests when he is betrothed to the new Royina's lady in waiting Beatriz. Iselle simply points out that she is making the post of Chancellor a salaried position... [[ComicallyMissingThePoint whereupon Cazaril starts suggesting useful candidates]].]]
* In Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''{{Literature/Freckles}}'', [=McLean=] believes that Angel and Freckles's romance is doomed in part because she is of a wealthy family, and he has nothing.
** In the BackStory, [[spoiler:Freckles's father]] hit the problems caused by ignoring it.
-->''It was slow business, because he never had been taught to do a useful thing, and he didn't even know how to hunt work, least of all to do it when he found it; so pretty soon things were going wrong. But if he couldn't find work, she could always sing, so she sang at night, and made little things in the daytime. He didn't like her to sing in public, and he wouldn't allow her when he could HELP himself; but winter came, it was very cold, and fire was expensive.''
* In Creator/DorothyLSayers' Literature/LordPeterWimsey novels:

* Since the early 21st Century, a new social/economic class of people has emerged, known as the '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precariat precariat]]'. This class is commonly prone to 'involuntary celibacy' and other difficulties in maintaining relationships, due to the precarious employment situation of those who are a part of it. It is worth noting that [[EvolvingTrope this incarnation of the trope]] is hardly limited to men.
** In Japan such people are known as '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeter freeters]]' or '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivore_men herbivore men]].
* When General Junot told his friend UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte (who was then First Consul of the French Republic) of his desire to marry a charming but impoverished young lady, Bonaparte answered :
--> "How right you were to say that you're madly in love ! And I who recommended you to marry a rich woman ! After all, ''you'''re not rich."
** However, Junot subverted this by answering :
--> "Excuse me, General, but I am ! Aren't you my protector ?"
** Bonaparte proved him right by giving them both large sums of money. Incidentally, that matter of money had also been an obstacle to an earlier marriage project involving the same Junot and Napoleon's sister, Pauline (suggested at a time where both men were unemployed officers, and Bonaparte was even poorer than Junot).
* Still TruthInTelevision in places where marriages are typically [[ArrangedMarriage business transactions between the prospective bride's parents and the prospective groom and/or his family]], where love and companionship [[MarriageBeforeRomance come later]] (or not at all), and HomosocialHeterosexuality is the norm.

** Earlier in the story, Scrooge berates his nephew, Fred, for getting married even though he wasn't exactly rolling in money. Fred's response, when asked why he got married anyway, was "[[MarryForLove Because I fell in love]]!"

* In Creator/RobinMcKinley's ''Literature/BeautyARetellingOfBeautyAndTheBeast'', one of Beauty's sisters is in love with a man who wants to leave the city and become a [[TheBlacksmith blacksmith]], which would never let him get money enough for a wealthy merchant's daughter. When their family is ruined, he pays his suit and tells her father that they can all come and live at the house he can get. (It helps that the girls' father likes him anyway, and might have consented to the match regardless.)

--> ''Gilligan'': (in a pained voice) Skipper... I don't think I can support this wife!

* Kide, the protagonist of ''Literature/PavaneInPearlAndEmerald'', is unable to support to wife [[ImpoverishedPatrician in spite of being a lord]] at the Coral Palace. He's been trying to marry the princess for years before the books starts, since as an heiress the princess would be able to support herself and any children she has.

* Prominent in ''GoneWithTheWind'' after the war. Alex Fontaine wants to marry Dimity Munroe, but honor prevents him from asking her until he can support her. Frank Kennedy holds off on marrying Suellen for the same reasons. Scarlett at one point bemoans that there will be a lot of old maids in the South because of this trope.

** In Japan such people are known as '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeter freeters]]' or '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivore_men herbivore men]]\.