Final answer:
In the context of the Nayar community, husbands might respond to a woman's pregnancy with an array of reactions, considering their unique marriage practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
When addressing the question of how husbands might respond when a woman, particularly within the Nayar community, became pregnant, it is essential to consider the cultural and historical context surrounding marital practices and gender roles. Historically, in certain societies, men and women performed specific roles within the family structure, and husbands often had the responsibility of providing for the family financially. The importance of finding an ideal husband who could fulfill this role was paramount.
Within the Nayar community, a woman becoming pregnant might have different implications compared to other social settings, given the unique marriage and family practices including polygyny as indicated by the concept of expecting a 'co-wife.' Husbands might have various responses ranging from acceptance to providing support due to the communal and extended family structures typically found in these societies. Moreover, there was significant attention paid to the physical traits of men, as symbolized by the advice to feel the palms of his hands, signifying an assessment of a potential husband's capabilities.
In more traditional settings, such as those described, the wife's identity and well-being were often closely tied to her husband, as demonstrated by the severe practices of widows, including sati, which although outlawed, speaks to the extreme extent of a woman's loyalty and dependence on her husband. Therefore, a husband's reaction to a wife's pregnancy would also have been influenced by these deep-rooted societal expectations.