My literary role models are found in The Wife, by Washington Irving and in Geraint and Enid by Lord Tennyson. I consider both, the unamed wife and Enid, heroines. They do not stand by and let their men march through life while they sit and pout in feminine self-pity. But they are not disrespectful or disobedient to their husbands, no matter what the requests or circumstances. They stand by their men, faithfully and patiently.
The Wife exemplifies 1 Peter 3:6 better than any other literary wife I have come across. My bible has a sidenote that says that 'amazement' in this verse could also be translated 'sudden calamity'. The Wife is a cheerful, respectful, and loving wife, even in the midst of sudden financial calamity.
Enid is respectful(reverencing), obedient, and submissive, following her husband and obeying him, even when he falsely suspects her of cheating and forces her through many tests, the worst probably being the order for her to not speak to him. In the end he is convinced of her love and commitment to him.
You can read The Wife here:http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/wirving/bl-wirving-thewife.htm and Geraint and Enid here: http://www.classicreader.com/book/574/5/.
I do, however, recommend reading them in their book form. The Wife is included in Irving's The Sketchbook and Geraint and Enid is part of Tennyson's Idyll's of the King.
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