Love's Bond Analysis

Love and marriage are complicated concepts. Even more so, an unreciprocated desire to marry someone seems like a far-fetched and difficult to understand idea. Validating the notion of complexity are the crowds of people attempting to understand and discuss the topic. Through time, famous philosophers have discussed the concept of love and how it fits into our lives. By analyzing different opinions, one can make assertions regarding the best course of action for Mr. Stevens. Mr. Stevens maintains a desire to marry a friend, Miss Kenton. Although Epicurus and Nozick had two different opinions towards Mr. Stevens’ desire, he should not eliminate his desire to marry Miss Kenton.

Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher with a rather grim outlook

In the eyes of Nozick, Mr. Stevens’ current mood towards Miss Kenton would be an infatuation – or an intense state that displays familiar features. Some of these features included almost always thinking about the person, wanting to constantly touch and to be together, excitement in the other’s presence, losing sleep, and expressing ones love through poetry and gifts. Mr. Steven’s displays characteristics parallel with being in love or an infatuation. Even though Mr. Steven’s current feelings are an infatuation with Miss Kenton, infatuation is given the opportunity to transform itself into a romantic love; however, this opportunity would be forgone if Mr. Stevens eliminates his initial desire to marry Miss

Stevens can unite into what we call a we. This we is an extension of our own well-being and is the mark of love. Bad things that happen to your loved one happen to you; however, this is true when good things happen as well. Someone who loves you and helps you with your problems does so not out of selfishness, but doing so is in part to maintain their own well-being. Thus, according to Norzick, a benefit from love is that it places a floor under your well-being. Pursing further relationships with Miss Kenton may provide Mr. Stevens with an extension of himself and the associated benefits.

Robert Nozick evaluates other consequences of love. In receiving adult love, we are held worthy of being the primary object of the most intense love. We delight in the other person and giving delight. Seeing Miss Kenton happier with him and made happy through his love will make Mr. Stevens happier with himself.

Nozick would ask Mr. Stevens to further evaluate his desire and relationship with Miss Kenton. Does the thought of forming a we with that person bring excitement and delight? Does that identity seem a wonderful one to have? The desire to have love in one’s life, according to Nozick, is not the same as loving a particular person, wanting to form a we with that person in particular. By having a desire to marry Miss Kenton, Mr. Stevens expresses the desire to form a we with another person – not simply desiring love and