The passage represents the continuation of which view of women that was commonly held prior to the French Revolution?

The correct answer highlights the view that women were seen as economically dependent on their husbands, which was a widely accepted notion in society prior to the French Revolution. This perspective was rooted in the patriarchal structure of the time, where women's roles were primarily domestic, limiting their opportunities for financial independence or participation in the market economy.

This dependency was reinforced by legal systems and social norms that restricted women's rights to own property or engage in business without their husband's consent. The Revolution did bring about discussions regarding gender roles and rights, but the prevailing view before this period was that wives relied on their husbands for financial support and security.

In contrast, the other options reflect different aspects of women's roles that do not align as closely with the historical context. For example, the idea that a wife could take over the family business upon her husband's death, while possible, did not reflect the general societal view. Similarly, describing a wife as being on the same level as a slave or as an equal economic partner in marriage does not capture the prevailing norms of dependence and subservience that characterized women's status in pre-Revolutionary France.