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The Dying Family Plumb Analysis

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The Dying Family Plumb Analysis
Is an ugly girl with five cows really worth more than a pretty girl with one?

This question is different today than it was hundreds of years ago. Family, as we know it today still tends to be based on property including one spouse and offspring. Marriage is still legally regulated and is a contract between two partners; however the emphasis on appearance has become significant. The family unit has changed; single parents, blended families and non-standard sexual relationships are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

In J. H. Plumb’s “ The Dying Family” the stereotypical family unit is contrasted by the current state of the family. It is obvious that the definition of family has evolved especially in modern culture. Coming from the eyes of a twenty-year-old single male, one may ask, why bother, with marriage if you can be with plenty of different women. As an individual, with age and maturity this indeed may change. However the commitment of marriage seems to be a risky, and potentially expensive undertaking. One may agree with Plumb when he states, “ the family has always been molded by the changing needs of society”. (The Dying Family 9). …show more content…
As a society we are more apt to upgrade. Family education is still vital to success, but maintaining a standard consistent unit is not always essential. Divorce is considered to be socially acceptable today. Some people do not even consider marriage as an option; rather they choose to live together with no legal commitment. In the past there was never such a thing as a prenuptial
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