Perhaps the inevitable experience of coming to terms with the thought of living together forever procures an uneasy feeling and puts an impression on newlyweds that marriage turns into a series of routines and monotony. The strikingly controversial character, Algernon, expresses his distaste toward marriage as he defines the essence of romance: “I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted.
That line is also a critical moment in the development of Benedick’s character. It’s the first time he drops his defense and thinks about his feelings for Beatrice and it begins to shift his thoughts on marriage. Shakespeare states, “Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humor? No!” (II.3. 241-243).
Some responses may include: • The significance of the title is in its double meaning; it is a play on words. Wilde’s humour is aimed at the Victorian notions of duty and respectability. To be ‘earnest’ can mean to be serious or sincere, which Wilde saw as hallmarks of the Victorian character. To be called ‘Ernest’ is fundamentally important to shallow characters in this play. Gwendolen wants to marry a man called Ernest, not caring whether he possesses the qualities that comprise earnestness.
He understands that this marriage is based upon an impulsive decision made by the couple since he knows how Romeo reacts to love. Earlier, Friar Lawrence gives caution to the unity because even though he thinks this marriage can be in the best interest for everyone, he understands the consequences of marrying the pair. However he
Self love is perverted and is a state of being in which one expects other people to give up part of their selves for that one person’s desires. Love of self is a natural state, which keeps one alive. Rousseau believes that without this love of self, love for another is completely impossible. Because of Mr. Sansom’s paralysis, he is not as active as other characters in the story, but his existence is connected with crucial imagery and symbolism. The father’s values can also be examined, along with his relationship with his son, Joel.
In contrast, the speaker of Robert Herrick’s poem, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” urges virgins to marry, to make a lasting commitment in which love plays a vital role. Comparing these poems reveals differences between love and lust. Despite the contrasting depictions of love and lust, both poets portray the underlying theme of carpe diem which means “seize the day”. Carpe Diem means that time should not be wasted and that you should make the most out of time. As a result, both poems focus on the theme of taking advantage of one's youth, they are both written from a male's perspective in trying to get his lover to take advantage of her youth before she loses it.
“The theme of marriage has two major strands: one is a naively exaggerated description of the state of holy matrimony for the good of the soul. The other is the a darker, more selfish concept of marriage as providing great conveniences for an ageing lecher.” How far do you agree with this statement. Marriage within ‘The Merchant’s Tale” is explored in different ways. To begin with, marriage is shown to be a religious and holy sacrament between a man and woman observed in the eyes of God. The Merchant provides us with this view, suggesting that no other state of matrimony is “worth a bene”.
Many people view infatuated love as irresponsible, immature and blind love built solely on unreasonable passion, which could simply stem from a sexual attraction. Empty love occurs when a person is solely looking for a commitment with no interest in intimacy or passion. This could simply be a result of not wanting to be alone in the world. It is built on the promise that the couple will maintain their relationship in the future. Fatuous love is caused from the combination of passion and commitment, without a sense of intimacy.
Having the story end in marriage may seem to conform to the social norms, indeed, and having Elizabeth’s goal be marriage at all makes it seem less rebellious. However, Austen’s goal was never to say that marriage was bad but rather that marriage, as was practiced then, needed to change. Humans can not exist happily in a loveless environment, as seen through the marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, so having potentially life-long unions be set on the basis of money and convenience alone was ludicrous. This rebellion was born out of the desire for a better life, as all rebellions are, and having it end in a successful and happy ending is what ultimately cements this particular story of young people in love in the hearts of readers the world
In the following paragraphs all of these arguments will be explored as pertaining to certain couples in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Those couples being the following Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet as well as Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, and the Bennets and Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas. Each couple in Pride and Prejudice had a motive for marrying, whether or not that was the right reason remains to be seen. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet met as young and hormonal adults in a repressed society. “Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in the marriage put an end to all real affection for her, ”(Austen 202).