Marriage does'nt necessarily means Love
Josette Whyte
Professor Gonzalez
English 101 OAC
27 March 2013
Marriage does Not Necessarily Means Love
Marriage doe s not necessarily mean love. Now more than ever, many 21ST Americans are getting married for practical reasons. Although this in itself is not new, the main difference is the number of remarriages on the same basis. The reason for these marriages and remarriages include having children, economic security, companionship, and for a specific benefit, such as acquiring a green card. Historically, many Victorian marriages were based on such practical, convenient and beneficial reasons. However, these marriages were viewed as permanent and there were rarely any divorces. The question can be asked what love is. Love is defined in so many different ways, as one poet puts it “ Love is like a fever which comes and goes quite independently of the will… there are no age limits for love”(Stendhal). In modern society factors such as several marriages, the enduring view of the man as the main breadwinner, and the need for prenuptial agreements must be considered, if one is to understand why marriage does not necessarily mean love in the 21st century. Marriage is defined as the union or legal contract between individuals of the opposite sex as husband and wife in a consensual relationship recognized by law that creates a kinship. In today’s society there are however different types of marriages, along with many different reason for marriage, example traditional, economic, social status, to name a few.
In his book The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and Family in America Today, Andrew Cherlin says that marriage has become a merry-go-round. He notes that “we choose and choose again, starting and ending cohabiting relationships and marriages.” He argues that “this distinct pattern of multiple partnerships is related to the central place in American culture of both marriage and a kind of individualism that emphasizes self-expression and
Professor Gonzalez
English 101 OAC
27 March 2013
Marriage does Not Necessarily Means Love
Marriage doe s not necessarily mean love. Now more than ever, many 21ST Americans are getting married for practical reasons. Although this in itself is not new, the main difference is the number of remarriages on the same basis. The reason for these marriages and remarriages include having children, economic security, companionship, and for a specific benefit, such as acquiring a green card. Historically, many Victorian marriages were based on such practical, convenient and beneficial reasons. However, these marriages were viewed as permanent and there were rarely any divorces. The question can be asked what love is. Love is defined in so many different ways, as one poet puts it “ Love is like a fever which comes and goes quite independently of the will… there are no age limits for love”(Stendhal). In modern society factors such as several marriages, the enduring view of the man as the main breadwinner, and the need for prenuptial agreements must be considered, if one is to understand why marriage does not necessarily mean love in the 21st century. Marriage is defined as the union or legal contract between individuals of the opposite sex as husband and wife in a consensual relationship recognized by law that creates a kinship. In today’s society there are however different types of marriages, along with many different reason for marriage, example traditional, economic, social status, to name a few.
In his book The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and Family in America Today, Andrew Cherlin says that marriage has become a merry-go-round. He notes that “we choose and choose again, starting and ending cohabiting relationships and marriages.” He argues that “this distinct pattern of multiple partnerships is related to the central place in American culture of both marriage and a kind of individualism that emphasizes self-expression and
Cited: American Community Survey Reports, Aug. 2011. Web. America Today.” New York: Vintage, 2010. Print Cherlin, Andrew. “The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and the family in. Flanagan, Catlin “Is There Hope for Marriage” July 2009 Web Time .Com Hersh, Warren S. “Before They Tie The Knot, Ask Them To Ink The Plan.” National Underwriter 110.36 (2006): 38-41. Print. Luscombe, Belinda. “Who Needs Marriage?, A Changing Institution.” TIME Nov. 2010: Print. Keller, Kathy and Timothy “The Meaning of Marriage” Nov.2011 Published by Dutton United States. United States Census Bureau. “Marital Events of Americans: 2009” Waile Linda and Gallagher “The Case for Marriage” Sept. 2010 Print