Love And Marriage In Emma Goldman's 'Marriage And Love'

Stephanie Coontz is a sociologist who is interested in marriage and the change in its structure over the time-span as love became a main proponent of the relationship involved in marriages. In her article, “What 's Love Got to Do With It,” Coontz argues that the more love becomes a part of the equation the less stable the institution of marriage becomes. Marriage at one point was a social contract that bound two families together to increase their property and wealth as well as ally connections. Each party entered into the contract knowing their roles and if one partner failed to meet the expectations, they were still contractually obligated to one another and were not allowed to divorce. As love became part of the equation, each partner was less sure of their obligations and often chose to end their marriages if at all possible.

In “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” Anjula Razdan determines the benefits and disadvantages of both arranged and self-determined marriages. She begins with discussing how arranged marriages were common in many cultures up until the last century and were typically used for political or materialistic gain rather than to affirm the love between two individuals. Razdan questions if society’s transition to marriages based on passion has been beneficial considering both divorce and single adulthood rates increase with every passing year. She uses arguements from Robert Epstein, an editor for Psychology Today and divorced father, to convey the message that arranged marriages “result in an enduring love because they promote compatibility…ahead of

Emma Goldman was born and raised in Lithuania and moved to America when she was a teenager. Shortly after moving to the U.S. she married and then divorced. After her failed marriage, her support of anarchism grew and she created a magazine, Mother Earth, to broadcast these ideas. However, this alarmed the government and she was quickly deported from America and moved to the Soviet Union. The United States government handled any signs of support for anarchism or communism as a threat against the nation due to the first red scare, which occurred around the time of World War I. This document was an excerpt from a magazine that Goldman created. She used her outlet to express her argument for free love through explaining what exactly was atrocious

In over half a century, marriage has transformed from being a social requirement to simply being an option in today’s society. What has caused this change? Many institutions in our society have changed drastically along with marriage. Although these institutions have not caused marriage to be optional, they do strongly correlate with the decreased value. The economy, education, religion, and government have all altered since the 1950s. When any institution encounters a change, all other institutions are affected. Family is a major institution in society, and I believe that marriage is an important aspect of this institution. Cohabitation, religion, women in the work world and divorce have all effected the way marriage is viewed today.

What causes people to contemplate marriage? Many would like to believe the answer is love, but that is not always the case. People who think of an ideal marriage would think of two people loving each other and sharing a personal bond or goals together. Marriage is usually defined as the legally or formally recognized union of two lovers as partners in a personal relationship. This suggests there is an actual connection between two people in marriage, but do people actually consider this when committing to “love” and “support” their partners forever? As research and studies have shown, people ultimately get married for the incorrect reasons, in which love is not included or even a part of. This philosophy can be easily applied to the short poem, “Marriage” by Gregory Corso. In this emotional poem, the author argues marriage is more effectively understood or known for culture and convenience rather than through the abstract considerations of love. Corso finds himself confused multiple times, wondering if he should marry to not be lonely, for tradition and for his physical and mental health. He disregards love, a relationship or a connection with his future wife. The author ponders the decision weighing the options. He highlights which ones are the right and which ones are the incorrect reasons, according to his opinion. General ways of convenience like coping with loneliness, health and economic status, and navigating cultural stereotypes and religion are often the true

There comes a point in everyone’s life that this question or subject is brought up - “Are you dating anyone?” “When are you guys getting married?” When these questions are asked from family and friends, it pressures people into finding that special one. Even though, people do experience those desires and questions for themselves; does it make it right to feel that need? What is marriage? Is marriage a contract or love? What if marriage is not what people perceive it to be? What if marriage is not the happily ever after often seen in the movies? Laurie Essig and Lynn Owens are two scholars that wrote a piece entitled, What If Marriage Is Bad for Us? that contended the institution purpose of marriage is obsolete and in reality bad for society, and how marriage can lead to changed, unhealthy, and distressed.

For the Colonial families, marriage was “a practical arrangement that was considered necessary for civilization, not a source of love and affection” (Cohen, 2015). In comparison to the families in today’s times, people are waiting longer to get married. Today’s families are based on love and affection, and if the love spirits perish, so does the marriage. People in today’s times, not too many marriages are arranged and if they are its cultural related reasons. Marriage should be based on your love and respect you have for the other person, without that, I don’t understand how living with someone and raising a family would ever last, especially in today’s world.

The description of how the concept of marriage in today’s era in comparison to how marriages was originally conveyed is accurate. Andrew Cherlin describes the current thoughts of marriage of how I view it—marriage should be something as a last resort for adults. Reason being—people should experience their life first beforehand, gained knowledge and skills that will help them out in a long run. Thus, when marriage is becoming an option, they have plenty of experience to take them further into adulthood. This was the problem I had with my sister getting married back in May. I felt that she was rushing into marriage in order to compete with her friends (whom are getting married as well, after they already settled everything they needed to do).

In modern society, the main basis for marriage is to celebrate romance and shared love between two people. However, the origin of marriage, in its earliest known history, was far from this. The earliest documentations we have of marriage were arranged by parents, with intentions of strengthening their families status and future. It was more of a means of survival and to assure their families and future generations would thrive. Modern day marriage is the utmost form of romance.

For the marriage may never last because of having no emotion connection within one and another. Having no love in a relationship can cause many damages for one and another. The damage may cause both people to commit something that he or she may never tend to do. “The interviewees declared that marriage and couple's relationship may not work if there is no love between husband and wife. They considered necessary free choice of partners based on the feelings to a successful marriage”. (Maria del Mar Pastor Bravo et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 132 (2014) 564 – 569). Love is a big key into marriage; you can’t just marry someone who you’ve never met or someone who you can’t have a conversation with. Love and communication are two keys into a marriage. “All respondents said that the common way to marry these days is by eloping. The basis of these elopements is viewed as love, affection, or attraction between the couple”. (Allendorf, Keeral. “Schemas of Marital Change: From Arranged Marriages to Eloping for love.” Journal of Marriage & Family 75.2 (2013): 453-469. Education Source. Web. 26 Apr.

"Marriage is quite likely the one most damaging force our species have ever invented, up to and including war." Harold Christensen, author of Marriage Analysis, is not the only person who believes marriage is in many ways "hogwash."

Marriage is a union that has been around for as long as humans have walked the earth. The human race depends upon the union of its members, and as such, the subject of marriage has been an issue that receives more intense scrutiny and attention than many would likely believe. In today's day and age, with humanity continuing to move in a modern direction, many argue that marriage is a union that should be entered into freely and should be based exclusively on the love between two people. However, I argue that arranged marriage, which has taken place throughout the ages and throughout the world, is a union that offers its observers a marriage based in support, longevity and love, and is an institution that should not be frowned upon.

The first major reason for the existence of marriage is love. Modern marriages take love as their prime factor. So many would ask what love is? Love is caring deeply about another person, it seems impossible to be without them. The ideology allows people from different social classes, religions, genders and races to be united without any opposition to their relationship. Mostly people marry when they find a person who is a friend, protector, supporter and a lover. Love cannot be explained since it has many meanings, but in

“ Why people need to marry with someone? Why do we need a piece of paper to prove that I love you ? Marriage does not mean anything. We are living together now. Is not it good enough for us” my friend’ boyfriend said to her when she mentioned she want a marriage. After he had said that, she broke up with him soon. I began to wonder what is the meaning of marriage ? Even though I understand why people think marriage means nothing, I disagree. A marriage license is a piece of paper but it is not just a piece of paper; marriage means a lot to yourself, your family, and society. Marriage has many social and economic value that could help the development of any country.

The subject of marriage is age-old- certainly not something as new as to be borne of the last few centuries. Debates as to the results of the institution, however, may be thought of differently. It has not been until as recent as the twentieth century that we have begun to examine the sort of effects that the institution of matrimony has produced on either men, or women. Perhaps amusingly enough, findings indicate the contrariness as to how Western society has trained both men and women to feel towards the thought of marrying another: marriage has a far more positive effect on men than many know, but unfortunately, the same cannot be said of women. However, that is not to say that this finding is universal. There have always been- and will be- exceptions, and beyond that, there are factors of not insignificant influence.