History

This reaction paper is based on the published writings of one Anthony Snyder in Arranged Marriages, as found in the selection, No More MoonJune Loves Out.

A sufficient summary of the subject matter has a lot to do with the juxtaposition of the modern mode of marriage against that of old, where such unions were arranged by the parents of those concerned (Snyder, 2004). Favorably convincing arguments are advanced by the author, whereby the concept(s) of romantic love and the resultant marriage, not to mention the more-often-than-not consequence of divorce, are addressed.

Worth appreciating is that I actually do share the sentiments of the author regarding the history of romantic love being the continuing ironic testimony of the power of human minds to mesmerize our bodies, whilst romantic marriage is, on the other hand, a more recent and rather unsuccessful evolutionary stage in the evolution of matrimony, for instance, statistics reveal that at least one in three marriages are doomed to end up in divorce, which further lays credence to the notion that traditionally-arranged marriages were, and still might be, more workable.

In modern day, love is regarded the expectation of every tom, dick and harry, male and or female, a whimsy that can be traced back to the 12th Century, whence Provencal poets reckoned that its sanctity was the exotic refinement of a bored aristocracy. Furthermore, in the American context, the Declaration of Independence stated, as an inalienable right, the pursuit of happiness by and for all (Snyder, 2004).

However, some pundits deem love to be a learned form of behavior, as opposed to its being either a right or an instinct. In the same light, love can be heralded as being a learnt response, coined from literature and the mass media, whilst acknowledging that spontaneity in feeling is not among its cornerstones, with artificiality in ritual being one of its striking characteristics.

In a practical American setting, romantic love can be defined as a state of tension induced by prevailing romantic myths, whence the average lovers nourishment is the overall expectation of bliss competition is a pillar against which this is based, whereby the outcome of being alone is tantamount to one being a failure in the contest (of love).

In the same breath, the Industrial Revolution brought in its wake the privatization of marriage as a consequence of urbanization, whereby intimacy of a spousal relationship offered a sanctuary from the world in general. However, the overwhelming temptations of the outside world ultimately necessitated an exacting of moral standards in a typical marital setting, especially as concerned fidelity (Snyder, 2004). Subsequently, the period spanning between 1870 and 1920 witnessed a geometrical rise in the number of divorces.

A vast difference can be discerned with the traditional modus operandi, whereby societal structure ensured that partners in a given marriage were oriented externally, not having to exclusively rely on each other for emotional gratification. This is sharply contrasted with modern-day society, which actively forces couples to bank on each other for purposes of stability and permanence, both functions that were subscribed to by a sizeable social and familial network.

It can thus be argued that, today, marriage is expected to serve a multiplicity of functions, and that the standards of romantic marriage, inclusive of, but not limited to, unrelieved passion and unchallenged fidelity, are merely an ideal to be estimated, not a cosmopolitan principle to be adhered to.

Additionally, a point of particular note is that selection of mates in the traditional context was determined by social, economic and political considerations which were mainly directed to either reaffirming old ties or establishing new ones altogether, whereby principles, rather than self-interest, was the main consideration the issue of emotional satisfaction was not incorporated into the consideration agenda.

Subscribers to the arranged marriage school of thought postulate that its very basis was a positive view of human nature, and that a more durable foundation than romantic love was necessary, as wisdom guided the choice of a favorable partner (Snyder, 2004).

Thus, in a nutshell, it can be deduced that an arranged marriage is superior, based on the afore-mentioned premises, as it teaches one how to live with an actual individual, whereas the myths of romantic love endeavor to teach us how to fall in love, usually with an ideal-image.