The Enduring Tradition of Marriage
comparative Essay
1437 words
The concept of marriage is a puzzling phenomenon considering the fact that from past history until now and beyond, most humans have and/or will take part in it during their lifetimes. The reasons for marriage may seem trivial for someone living in today’s love oriented society, but in other cultures and times past, marriage served many different purposes. Marriage is described by Merriam-Webster as a “legally and socially sanctioned union, usually between a man and a woman, that is regulated by laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and attitudes that prescribe the rights and duties of the partners and accords status to their offspring (if any)”. When looking into both past and present motives of marriage; love, procreation, culture, economics, and religion best explain why the phenomenon has continued to exist since the beginning of time. The human race would quickly die off without the forever existing bond of and sexual union between genders. The desire for procreation is an arguably innate feature embedded within all human beings where even homosexual couples wish to have children if only through adoption. Starting from the beginning of time, unions were formed –if informally- between men and women, proven by the fact that humans still live and thrive today. The institution of marriage goes back over 5,000 years ago where the rules and associated laws were still “rough” around the edges. As an example, the so called “Best Man” role was given to a groom’s friend who helped him first kidnap and later thwart the family’s rescue of the bride . While the idea of stealing an attractive bride and fending off the family’s attempts at rescue might sound appealing for some, it would not end very well in today’s society. The Roman Empire fr... ... middle of paper ... ...om http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Academic/Price_Theory/PThy_Chapter_21/PThy_Chap_21.html Ghose, B. T. (2013, June 26). History of Marriage: 13 Surprising Facts. Retrieved May 07, 2014, from http://www.livescience.com/37777-history-of-marriage.html Kruszelnicki, K. S. (2000, October 26). Math of Marriage › Dr Karl's Great Moments In Science (ABC Science). Retrieved May 03, 2014, from http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2000/10/26/204128.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience Lavenda, R. H. (2014, March 19). Cultural Anthropology/Marriage, Reproduction and Kinship. Retrieved May 03, 2014, from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cultural_Anthropology/Marriage%2C_Reproduction_and_Kinship The Week Staff. (2012, June 01). How marriage has changed over centuries. Retrieved May 03, 2014, from https://theweek.com/article/index/228541/how-marriage-has-changed-over-centuries
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the concept of marriage is a puzzling phenomenon considering the fact that most humans have and/or will take part in it during their lifetimes.
- Explains that the desire for procreation is an innate feature embedded within all human beings. the roman empire frowned upon this uncivilized idea and added imperial laws.
- Explains that different cultures define and treat marriage differently. monogamy is the most common type of marriage in industrial nations.
- Explains that same sexed marriages are an increasing topic of interest as it is becoming socially acceptable to be open about having different sexual orientations.
- Explains that economic gain has been a huge factor in marriage for almost every culture throughout history.
- Explains that in judaism marriage is an exclusive contractual bond between man and woman founded by the laws of the torah.
- Concludes that marriage exists in many sizes, shapes, and forms. the drive for procreation and the extension of a family line is one major factor that keeps marriage around since the beginning of time.
- Explains that all mainstream religions in the past and present prescribe marriage for a plethora of reasons.
- The editors of encyclopdia britannica. (n.d.). dowry (marriage custom).
Related
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- Wedding Customs Essayexplanatory essayMarriage is termed as a legitimate commitment or social establishment which unites two people mutually as husband and wife. The agreement ascertains privileges and responsibilities amid spouses, spouses and children and spouses and in-laws. Marriage is deemed to be a momentous union in every society. It is significant in terms of providing security, emotional support and fulfilling economic, social, cultural and physical needs. These needs are the natural cravings of young adults that drive them towards matrimony. It is a foundation that is based on personal responsibilities which form the backbone of civilizations.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that wedding traditions & superstitions: 50 wedding facts and trivia. investor relations.
- Explains flesche, f. l., osage marriage customs, american anthropologist, 14, 127 - 130.
- Explains that cultural anthropology examines how humans lived in the past and how they live today, and what activities they performed or performed in this day and age.
- Explains that italy is rich with family values, food, marital union, and extravagance of wedding décor.
- Explains that filipino traditions are inspired by spanish conventions, such as marriage proposal, ring offering, and bachelorette party.
- Explains the marriage traditions of osage. mizhi refers to matrimony between young, previously unmarried people. omiha is a union between previously married males and females.
1902 wordsRead More - A History Of Marriage By Stephanie Coontz Summaryanalytical essayA History of Marriage by Stephanie Coontz speaks of the recent idealization of marriage based solely on love. Coontz doesn’t defame love, but touches on the many profound aspects that have created and bonded marriages through time. While love is still a large aspect Coontz wants us to see that a marriage needs more solid and less fickle aspects than just love.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how stephanie coontz's a history of marriage speaks of the recent idealization of marriage based solely on love and touches on the many profound aspects that have created and bonded marriages through time.
- Explains that many cultures either avoid the discussion of love in marriage or spit on the idea completely. coontz helped unravel where these teachings developed and was deeply connected to cultures with religious backgrounds.
- Analyzes how coontz depicts arranged marriages more positively than we in the western world would perceive.
- Analyzes how coontz uses the story of king lothar ii to portray how divorce was used to be greedy.
- Analyzes how coontz argues that modern day marriages are remarkably beneficial when normalities and oppressions of society are not imposed.
1031 wordsRead More - The History of Marriage and Family is Changingopinion essayThe History of Marriage and Family is Changing Things have changed a great deal from the Puritanical beliefs integrated long ago that said people must have a license in order to live together. Now, blended families are commonplace and "marriages" between people of the same sex are a reality. The history of marriage and family is actually filled with a variety of thought quite foreign to say, the average American. Marriage was often an agreement of practicality, arranged to provide a linkage between family fortunes. The film Titanic exemplifies this type of thinking even as late as the turn of the century.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the history of marriage and family has changed from puritanical beliefs that said people had to have a license to live together.
- Explains that marriage has been linked with white wedding dresses and three tiered whipped cream cakes, but it has also broached the question of whether or not the committed couple should live together before the big wedding day.
- Explains that the number of couples living together in canada, without benefit of marriage, almost tripled between 1981 and 1995. the stigma is lessened due to the current people in their twenties having parents who also cohabited before marriage.
- Explains that the divorce rate doubled during the period from 1960 to 1980. studies show that divorce was most common in the second year of marriage.
- Opines that living together may have an effect on an impending marriage, but the obvious effect would be that the couple realizes that they are not right for each other and would not marry at all.
- Explains that the number of children living in families with married couples declined from 88% in 1960 to 69% in 1994. divorce does explain the drop, but may be attributed to the rise in nonmarital childbearing.
- Opines that living together for practical reasons, such as sharing expenses, shouldn't negatively affect the future marriage. however, a religious reservation and personal guilt could put additional strife on the union
- Analyzes the reasons why people move in together, such as less marriage and more out-of-wedlock babies being born in poorer communities.
- Explains smith's suggestion that marriage can increase family wealth. the household division of labor implies that the total product of a married couple is larger than the sum of the outputs of each.
- Opines that marriage is a cause and consequence of economic, cultural, and psychological stratification in american society.
- Opines that long-distance relationships are an issue that needs to be brought up in terms of cohabitation and marriage. some couples choose to stay married but not cohabit.
- Opines that living apart can tear a marriage apart. marriage institutionalizes the obligations of both parents to raise children.
1517 wordsRead More - Changing Views of Family in Societyanalytical essaySmiley, Jane. “Why Do We Marry?” Utne Reader, Sep/Oct 2000. Elements of Argument. Eds. John E. Sullivan III and Deborah Baker. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006. 563-564.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that their understanding of family has matured, and many sources have helped shape their belief.
- Analyzes how tight knit groups, such as foreigners with the same cultural norms, or military members separated from family form kinships that bond them like blood relatives.
- Explains that as our culture changes so do institutions and our society’s definition of them. step-families, pets, and close friends are all included in our vocabulary when it comes to defining our family.
- Analyzes how society drew its definition of family from the sitcom ozzie and harriet. the culprit creating these unusual families is not always divorce and can include the death of a parent.
- Analyzes shields, carol, and smiley, jane. "why do we marry?" utne reader, sep/oct 2000.
1266 wordsRead More - Gender Roles In Stephanie Coontz's The Way We Never Were?analytical essayMarriage has changed more over the last 30 years than the previous 3,500 years. As
In this essay, the author
- Describes the ideas about marriage that our society assumes to be true today.
- Explains that marriage became less of a business transaction and more about love.
- Explains that marriage has changed more over the last 30 years than the previous 3,500 years.
- Explains that this was the typical of many families in the early 19th century due to high death rates. many mothers would die while giving birth leaving the father to care for the rest of the family.
- Opines that families would have many more problems with their new step family than what is common of the problems in step families today.
- Analyzes how divorce rates have been surpassed in some cultures, such as the shoshoni indians and japan.
- Explains that before marriage, the upper class used marriage to create alliances and the middle class and lower class would treat marriage as a business transaction.
- Argues that society assumed gender roles as if they were absolute, despite the evidence to go against them.
- Explains that new separate spheres in which husbands and wives are place have caused great change. there is now about ten to fifteen years of sexual maturity before people are married
- Explains that due to feminist movements, women can enter the work force, but policies regarding subsidized prenatal leave and good childcare are still not accessible. illegitimate children are no longer associated with a job.
- Explains that there is great evidence to show there are some positive outcomes, such as less likelihood of depression in dual earning families, and fathers are more likely to be single mothers.
- Opines that society's changes in the way society views and handles marriage can seem negative, but dr. koontz says this is a revolution and there is no returning to the previous ways and outlooks on marriage.
944 wordsRead More - Marital Oppression In The Story Of An Hour by Kate Chopinanalytical essayRobson, Ruthann. "The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History: Marriage." Houghton Mifflin Study Center. 19 Nov. 2005. http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/women/html/wh_022200_marriage.htm.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how "the story of an hour" presents a valid argument in favor of louise as the oppressed wife finally set free after her husband's death.
- Analyzes how mrs. mallard becomes louise, an individual, no longer overshadowed by her husband. chopin indicates that men and women oppress each other, denying one another freedom and a sense of identity.
- Analyzes how "the story of an hour" shows that louise felt her husband's domination through the "powerful will bending her" and is in "this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being."
- Analyzes how louise on her own indicates the bending of her will to her husband's depicts the hard reality of women and the passive persona it entails.
- Explains that louise's character is not uncommon in modern society. many women assume a subordinate role, which is visible in traditional societies.
- Explains that women have always had lower status than men, but the extent of the gap between the sexes varies across cultures and time. the united nations summed up the burden of this inequality in 1980.
- Argues that the 1800's was a time when women had no rights and were subjected to patriarchy. the typical reaction of students is disapproval of mrs. mallard.
- Opines that it is easier to condemn a person than to take the time and ask what their motivation is. louise was an oppressed woman, trapped in her marriage, unable to divorce her husband, and condemned by society.
- Analyzes how chopin's dedication to elaborating louise’s joy while merely mentioning in passing her momentary grief at the beginning pushes the reader to automatically judge her disapproval.
- Analyzes how the modern view of marriage and its intended permanency is not what they once were, whereas mourning is a mere inconvenience and something to be experienced only momentarily for fear it may interrupt our lives.
- Concludes that mrs. mallard's lack of freedom and individuality is a consequence of the entrapment felt by her marriage.
- Describes s of the book, "the story of an hour" and "marriage and family life."
- Cites robson, ruthann, and houghton mifflin study center's "readers companion to u.s. women’s history: marriage."
1726 wordsRead More - Evolution Of Marriage Essayanalytical essayWhat is marriage: Marriage has existed longer than written history and there still a great demand. Over half of the adult population in the United States is married which consists of over 2 million people. At some point, two thirds of all Americans heterosexual or homosexual will vow to better or for worse till death do us apart. Despite, the recent decreased in the amount of people to get married, it’s still at a soaring 80 percent. Marriage is an integral part of who we are as humans but the real question is that because of evolutionary development or creation by God.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that marriage is an integral part of who we are as humans but the real question is that because of evolutionary development or creation by god.
- Analyzes how society is adapting to the changing world, from cohabitation to same-sex relationships. tinder, grindr and scruff are examples of "apps" that will organize "hook-ups," or "one night stands" for heterosexual and/or homosexual couples.
- Explains that the merrier-webster dictionary defines cohabitation as "to live together". half of women between 15-44 cohabitated first instead of marriage.
- Analyzes how instant gratification leads to a selfish mentality and self-absorbed behavior, leading to demanding sex drives. the missing piece of the puzzle is the constant search of intimacy and oneness, instilled by our creator.
- Analyzes how society defends and embraces homosexuality as part of the original design.
812 wordsRead More - Divorce in Okahomaargumentative essayThe human race began the practice of marriage in the time of the Egyptians. At this time marriage was about inheritance and property. It was not until the 18th century that people began marrying for love.Couples married young and stayed together for the remainder of their lives. Now a days marriage is becoming more of a milestone. It is a box that needs to be checked off by a certain point whether true love is involved or not. And because of this the divorce rates are through the roof. Until recently divorce was a rare occurrence and usually had to be approved upon by a religious figure. In recent years divorce has become a more prominent practice. Divorce used to be looked down upon and those who got divorces were considered at some level failures. This day and age divorce is widely accepted as a norm.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that many of the leading causes of divorce can easily be fixed with counseling and other marriage preservation measures.
- Argues that oklahoma has a higher than average divorce rate than the rest of the country.
- Concludes that long-lasting marriages positively affect the financial state of a person or couple. children are at higher risk for alcohol and drug use, poverty, dropping out of high school, and becoming single-parents.
- Describes fackrell, tamara a., hawkins, and moller, dan. the impact of divorce on our society.
1007 wordsRead More - Traditional Wives verses Stay at Home Wivesanalytical essay“Like most wives of our generation, we’d contemplated eventual widowhood but never thought we’d end up divorced” (Hekker 278). Traditional wives married for love and to follow th...
In this essay, the author
- Cites laurence behrens and leonard j. rosen's writing and reading across the curriculum.
- Explains that traditional marriages survived longer than modern ones, but many housewives were left trying to figure out survival while their husbands moved on to younger, career-oriented women.
- Argues that women aren't as accommodating to their husbands as they were in the 60s and 70s.
- Agrees with edelman's statement that a proper resolution shouldn't be to incur additional expenses, but be equal parents and set manageable expectations. hekker persuades the audience to set deeper goals.
1063 wordsRead More - Bondwoman's Narrativeanalytical essayA marriage in the 19th century had many different expectations than it does today. Most marriages, especially for the upper class, were conducted as an exchange of assets and used for public display. Hendrik Hartog in his lecture titled, "Marital Expectations in Nineteenth Century America," writes, "At least until the middle years of the nineteenth century being married meant subjecting oneself to a known and coercive public relationship," (96). It was an agreement that publicly cha...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that bondwoman's narrative is titled as a "novel," meaning there is no sustainable ground to prove this story to be an accurate biography.
- Explains that marriage in the 19th century had many different expectations than it does today. most marriages were conducted as an exchange of assets and used for public display.
- Analyzes hannah's account of the relationship between the master and mistress, which lacks companionship, equality, and romance.
- Analyzes the role of religion in hannah crafts' novel the bonwoman's narrative. christianity gave slaves hope and faith for a better life.
- Analyzes the contrast between the henry's household and the master and mistress in the novel. the henrys built their relationship on spiritual compassion and companionship.
- Analyzes how the novel touches on the problematic situations of slave marriage through the story of charlotte and henry.
- Analyzes how charlotte and henry are portrayed in a positive light because they pursue freedom in order to keep the sanctity of marriage.
- Opines that historical fiction is based on the factual record as scaffolding and letting imagination build the structure that fills in things we can never find out for sure.
- States that the georgetown law journal, 80.95 (1991): 95-129.
- States that the journal of negro history is a journal of negro history.
- Analyzes the gothic and companionate marriage in mp: an online feminist journal (2010): 101-115.
1502 wordsRead More