When we hear of the exploits of celebrities it usually focuses on their tremendously bad choices—the misuse of freedom that may come with money or notoriety. They seem to have no concept of responsibility to others or even to themselves. But there have also been those who, in spite of their fame and wealth, can't find freedom.

In The Duchess young Georgiana is chosen to marry the Duke of Devonshire. Such a marriage will be an upwardly mobile move. She is right to be excited at the news. She is also very flattered. She asks, "He loves me? He has only met me twice." She is about to enter into a world filled with the stuff of fairy tales—castles, wealth, fancy balls and clothes, a title. She is something of a celebrity of her day. She is a popular hostess. She dresses in the latest fashions. Her life must be wonderful.

But this is not the dream life we would expect. Instead it is a world that is filled with expectations and boundaries that must not be crossed. The most obvious constraint is that she is a woman. Women in the 18th Century had no rights. As we learn from Georgiana's friend Bess, a man can beat his wife with a stick as long it is no thicker than his thumb. A man, especially a man with power, can prevent his wife from having any contact with their children. She owns no property, has no vote, has no standing.

We also learn that there is a great disparity in the way extramarital affairs are viewed in society. For a man it is not uncommon to have other women besides his wife, but the wife cannot act in the same manner.

That takes us back to Georgiana's remark at the news she would marry: "He loves me?" In fact, although she acts as a hostess and is provided for lavishly, to the Duke she is little more than a brood mare. Her main function is to provide him with a male heir. What a contrast from all the rosy colored scenes of wedding and carriages and the welcome to the castle, and the utter lack of any sense of any emotion or eroticism on their wedding night. And as long as there is no male heir, she is expected to comply willingly. She is not allowed to be upset with the other women he shares his bed with. The one time she does, he responds by raping her.

There is no love in their marriage, only purpose. It is not that the Duke is incapable of passion. He beds various servants, and in time Georgiana's best friend with whom he seems to share a genuine love. As the years pass, Georgiana finds more and more that she is being held captive in a life that will hold little satisfaction for her. There is no escape. She cannot divorce him. And if she flaunts her own affair, he will strip her of her children, the one source of love she has.

The lack of freedom that Georgiana discovers stands in contrast with the growth of democracy taking place at that time. The American Revolution and the beginning of reforms in the British Parliament were underway in the period covered in the film. At a dinner party for Whig politicians at the Duke's home, she converses with one of them about their idea of expanding suffrage. She knows that as a woman she cannot vote, but do they plan to give all men a vote? No, she is told, these men are all for freedom, but freedom in moderation. She goes on to argue that freedom cannot be moderated—it is either freedom or it is not.

That discussion came to mind when late in the film, after having an open discussion about their marriage, the Duke looks out the window at their children playing and says to Georgiana, "How wonderful to be that free." They both knew that freedom has a way of being buried beneath the weight of life's responsibilities.

The Apostle Paul at times had to teach the young churches he wrote to about the nature of freedom. Yes, you are free, he told them, but you can't just do what you want. You may be free to do something, but that doesn't mean it's a good thing to do. If your freedom impacts another adversely, you have responsibility.

The world has changed greatly since the time Georgiana was the Duchess of Devonshire. Women (and men) have gained many freedoms unknown in that day. How we make use of that freedom is an important factor in finding real happiness.