Final answer:
The custom of a married woman using her husband's surname represents a transition into his family but varies across cultures and history. In modern times, there is a trend towards maintaining individual identity within marriage, with women keeping their names or preferring hyphenated surnames.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tradition of a married woman using her husband's last name is rooted in various historical practices and involves issues of identity, equality, and social norms. Typically, upon marriage, a woman would take on her husband's surname, signifying her becoming part of his family. This practice is recognized globally, with implications of changing from 'wife' to 'husband' symbolizing a deeper connection and commitment in the marriage.
Yet, this tradition has varied across cultures and periods. For instance, in some ancient societies, like in China, wives kept their own surname, indicating a complex social system where lineage could be traced through both the father's and mother's kin. In contrast, in the play 'Trifles' by Susan Glaspell, the reduction of a woman's identity to her husband's name reflects a loss of autonomy and is used to make a symbolic statement about gender inequality.
Today, many women choose to retain their maiden names or adopt a hyphenated surname post marriage, representing personal choice and an egalitarian approach to marital identity. This shift signifies a societal move towards recognizing the importance of a woman's own identity and how it can coexist with marital unity.