Marrying for Love
“The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love”
Today there are many different types of marriages that are widely recognized; however, monogamy and polygamy are most commonly accepted. While looking for marriage there are many reasons for someone to choose a desirable mate. Looks, personalities, fame, power, money and love are just a few of the things that people may search for when choosing who they want to marry. Many people today feel that love should be the primary factor in marriage, however “very rarely in history has love been seen as the main reason for getting married” (Coontz 378). The views toward different types of marriages from the 1600s all the way up until today are introduced in the article “The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love”. The author Stephanie Coontz explains and informs readers how some cultures and religions viewed love as a basis for marriage then and today.
Coontz’ article explains that as far back as the 1100s love was not present at the start of a marriage; it was either factored in or developed afterwards. In the thirteenth century, adultery was widely accepted as a form of love which is very different from today’s world. In the 1500s and 1600s, marriages were arranged by parents and if their “loyalty was not paramount…they were sometimes beaten” (Coontz 383). During the 1700s thru the late 1800s sexual loyalty was not even considered important; in fact many cultures have allowed mates to seek sexual gratification outside of marriage. It was not until recently in the late 1900s that people began to marry because of their love for each other. Coontz shows the comparisons of different cultures and their reasons to marry.
Coontz discusses that love is not a reason to marry. Although her argument is pretty accurate, today’s society would disagree with this. People may feel that love is the only thing that is strong enough to keep people together until they die. After people run out of money, fame, and lose their good looks due to natural or
Today there are many different types of marriages that are widely recognized; however, monogamy and polygamy are most commonly accepted. While looking for marriage there are many reasons for someone to choose a desirable mate. Looks, personalities, fame, power, money and love are just a few of the things that people may search for when choosing who they want to marry. Many people today feel that love should be the primary factor in marriage, however “very rarely in history has love been seen as the main reason for getting married” (Coontz 378). The views toward different types of marriages from the 1600s all the way up until today are introduced in the article “The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love”. The author Stephanie Coontz explains and informs readers how some cultures and religions viewed love as a basis for marriage then and today.
Coontz’ article explains that as far back as the 1100s love was not present at the start of a marriage; it was either factored in or developed afterwards. In the thirteenth century, adultery was widely accepted as a form of love which is very different from today’s world. In the 1500s and 1600s, marriages were arranged by parents and if their “loyalty was not paramount…they were sometimes beaten” (Coontz 383). During the 1700s thru the late 1800s sexual loyalty was not even considered important; in fact many cultures have allowed mates to seek sexual gratification outside of marriage. It was not until recently in the late 1900s that people began to marry because of their love for each other. Coontz shows the comparisons of different cultures and their reasons to marry.
Coontz discusses that love is not a reason to marry. Although her argument is pretty accurate, today’s society would disagree with this. People may feel that love is the only thing that is strong enough to keep people together until they die. After people run out of money, fame, and lose their good looks due to natural or