Modern Matrimony Marriage is the ultimate connection between humans, an official tie between two souls, that acts as a promise for a long, loyal future. It is commonly thought that marriage is one of the goals of life, something everyone is expected to achieve; however, there exists another motive for marriage: security. While many marry to express their love, just as many people marry in hopes of financial or social security. In Mavis Gallant’s prose, “The Other Paris,” the author shifts between two different motives for marriage—comfort and security—to criticize the passionless character of a loveless marriage. In the first half of the short story, Gallant builds a stereotypical version of love for the audience only to disregard …show more content…
Gallant introduces the idea of matrimony based on comfort by equating it to a higher quality of life. Gallant lists everything that makes marriage a good “investment:” “financial security,“ the “same church,“ and similar backgrounds. The list has everything except passion. Gallant clearly states that “there was no reason for the engagement of the marriage to fail” because all of the criteria for a seemingly-perfect marriage have been met. Furthermore, while the author characterizes Carol as an intellectual seeking financial security, the author paints “lovely” Howard as “in need of a mistress.” Gallant characterizes Howard as “uncommonly cautious” with this spontaneous proposal being “quite out of character.” The author reveals Howard’s motive as societal pressure. In his mind, “unless he stumbled on a competent housemaid, nothing ever got done [at home],” meaning he predominantly thinks of a wife, and Carol, as a homemaker. He also “was deeply moved” by the fear of not finding a wife “before it was too late.” Gallant, thus, exposes this lack of passion to criticize the concept of pragmatic matrimony--centered around social and household comfort--through the list structure of the author and the characterization of
In her essay, Hope Edelman specializes the focus on creating emotion, and using first hand experiences from her marriage to capture the attention of the intended audience, making them question the way their own marriage is being executed. This idea of sympathy being the path to go about capturing an audience in some form of communication, is still predominant in society. The writer is attempting to convey to that if possible, try to find similarities between Edelman’s marriage and their own. If successful, the marriage can make the changes Edelman feels are essential to being healthy. Hope Edelman’s perspective on the way marriage is meant to be, challenges traditional values of society; however, after reading this piece the audience may begin to prefer her idea of marriage.
Many of us have heard the shocking statistic that, apparently, half of all marriages end in divorce. This scares many people considering marriage for their life paths, so how can they avoid the trials that may lead to divorce? Although there is no divorce in Julia Alvarez's book, In the Time of the Butterflies, it does get close at times throughout the storyline. There are trials and tribulation in the marriages represented in the book. Patria and her husband have the most successful and happy marriage in the book, mainly because of their spirituality. "
Because Janie was a single, wealthy female in need of a suitor, “Janie is left pecked over like the carcass of the mule by suitors throughout the town whom only want her for her appearance and money” (Garland 2). After her numerous failed marriages, “Janie realized that a woman is to be loved, respected, and self-sufficient” (Dilbeck 1). When she realized this, Janie finally decided not to settle for less than she deserved and soon found the love of her life. Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship is based solely on equality, love, and respect. She “can now feel settled as an independent woman who has finally discovered herself” (Dilbeck 3).
Marriage was one of, if not the most important part of both a young man and women’s lives. It cemented a family bond that would last a lifetime, however marriage
It is evident that marriage is full of ups and downs, but the way couples manage these fluctuations in their relationship determines the strength of their connection. Both partners in a committed relationship must feel the same way and work equally as hard to push through potential obstacles. Being devoted to the relationship can ensure that the marriage will be able to survive the hardships and maintain a healthy, successful marriage. The emotional hardships and positives that a married couple endures on a daily basis are presented throughout the entirety of the poem, “Marriage”, by Gregory Corso. Corso’s poem explores the pressures and factors that influence marriage and sheds light on Updike’s short story about a couple facing divorce.
Marriage is usually perceived as a momentous event that finally unites man and wife as equals. However, in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie, the protagonist, faces the contrary. Although her second husband, Jody, treated her as an equal during the beginning of their relationship, she eventually is treated as a lesser part of their union as he asserts his dominance over her. After the death of Jody, Janie eventually found Tea Cake, who treated her fairly throughout their relationship, as shown through his natural willingness and patience to teach her how to play checkers. With their relationship, Janie experienced a marriage where she had the right to make her own decisions and express herself.
After Tea Cake’s death, Hurston wrote “She had come back from burying the dead.... The people all saw her because it was sundown” (Hurston 1). This quote illustrates that the brightness of change died with Tea Cake, but the memories and lessons lived on forever through each new sunrise of every forthcoming morning. Janie learned that although marriage consists of a relationship between two people, marriage must contain individuality to a particular extent. Janie finally experienced satisfaction in a marriage when Tea Cake allowed her personal freedoms and individuality through inviting her to be equal to him in such activities as playing games and hunting with guns.
The shift of narrative mode to just Howard emphasizes this, as he is being spoken about singularly, with no one else. This also reinforces Howard’s unhappiness with his lonely lifestyle, which may be the reason he is frantically rushing into a marriage. One of Howard’s sisters also “advised him to marry some nice girl before it was too late,” (Gallant, Lines 71-72). This characterizes Howard, similar to Carol, as being much too rushed and frantic in trying to find someone to marry. Also similar to Carol, is the belief that time is running out and Howard must get married immediately or else it will be too late which is completely and entirely false.
Zora Neele Hurston once said, “Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from the shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.” This quotation poses the question, does a failed love experience change a person and their journey to self realization? Society’s expectation of marriage. __________.
The early American literatures were highly influenced by religion. As the society was controlled by Christians, many literatures glorified the existence of God. Non white male christians were not appreciated for the works they did. For example, author Anne Bradstreet in her poem, “The Author to Her Book” insinuates that her literature was not well appreciated and many flaws were marked on her writing by the critics. Her writings were not much centred on the glorification of God.
One thinks more of how society views them more than thee other. This demonstrates that marriage may often be more a matter of economics than of love, the examples of Marianne and Elinor show that it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. And, insofar as marriage brings families together and creates new family units, it can create strong and lasting bonds of familial love. Elinor and Marianne ultimately do marry for love in the
Social norms; rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society. Social norms and tradition often conflict with one another, but they both play a major role in who we are and what we do every day. An individual’s traditions and environment have the most influence on one’s perspective because they often conflict, causing us to question our place in society. Tradition is both familiar and new because tradition changes over time as we change, but it often pulls us one way or another in our life decisions. In “Matrimony with a Proper Stranger” by Miguel Helft many Indian women are happy their arranged marriages but some “are in arranged marriages with abusive husbands.
According to this theory, nature of love is changing fundamentally and it can create either opportunities for democracy or chaos in life (Beck & Beck- Gernsheim, 1995). Love, family and personal freedom are three key elements in this theory. This theory states that the guidelines, rules and traditions which used to rule personal relationships have changed. “Individuals are now confronted with an endless series of choices as part of constructing, adjusting, improving or dissolving the unions they form with others” (Giddens, 2006). For instance, marriage nowadays depends on the willingness of the couples rather than for economic purposes or the urge to form family.
In their marriage, property plays a decisive part for this marriage, which is a typical example of the very social marriage situation and has a practical significance. On the one hand, Charlotte is twenty-seven years old girl and somewhat homely. Even though she has a good education before, she has little property. And for her, to marry basing on a comfortable life is the best marriage. So when she notices that Mr. Collins, a minister with money and status makes an offer of marriage to her, she accepts his proposal immediately without thinking whether there is love and same tastes between them.
Is there really a need to be married anymore? Does marriage actually benefit your relationship, or is it an outdated institution that we’ll be better off without? In this speech, I’ll convince you that marriage is a thing of the past, and that society’s views on marriage have changed enough in the past decade that marriage really isn’t necessary anymore. One of the main purposes of marriage is to maintain a permanent relationship, but nowadays marriage doesn’t lead to a permanent relationship due to the increase of divorce rates.