Debates on marriage and its importance in society vary considerably. People want to know if it is necessary to approve gay marriages or promote traditional marriages only (Girgis, Anderson, and George 5). Some people cannot understand the ways marriage customs and forms of marriage should be accepted by society (Strong and Cohen 9). Anyway, marriage is a universal concept the meaning of which develops with time and cannot be accepted by all nations in the same way (Blankenhorn 11). Still, marriage is a union of two people who are obliged to connect their lives. Many types of marriages exist today, and each of them could be explained, supported, or refuted. In this paper, the pros and cons of love marriage and traditional marriage will be discussed to clarify which one is a better or just more appropriate option for modern people.
Nowadays, it is possible to find the suggestion that traditional marriage where a husband works and a wife takes care of children and home is dead indeed (Filipovic par.1).
The pros of traditional marriage include:
- An amazing ceremony is required to celebrate a couple;
- Marriage is introduced as an institution of society with a number of benefits to support each member;
- Spouses have to exchange gifts and demonstrate their agreement to create a new family;
- Respect for people is promoted.
The cons of traditional marriage are:
- A number of obligations and rules have to be followed;
- Classification of people such as single/marriage disappoints some people;
- Mutual expenses and the necessity to divide money occur.
Love marriage is the one based on love as the main reason to create a new family (Stack par.18). It could be supported and refuted in many ways.
On the one hand, people, who are with love marriage, use such arguments as:
- The feeling of being in love is amazing because people need love in every aspect (Mars 90);
- Attention to human emotions makes people more humane;
- Decisions to get married are mutual;
- People learn how to develop relations in the best possible ways.
On the other hand, people, who disprove the idea of love marriage, conclude that:
- Love could be a temporary emotion and end one day;
- There is a threat of falling in love with another person;
- Beloved spouses cannot identify their weak and strong qualities in time;
- Financial aspects could become a challenge with time;
- People could marry without the permission of adults just because they have this right.
In general, both types of marriages have enough grounds for existence. Besides, in different countries, there are supporters and opponents of both types. Still, there is one simple truth that many modern people do not want to be bound by certain norms and rules. Therefore, they try to play with definitions and use the terms that could meet their own needs and interests.
In my opinion, love marriage is weaker than traditional marriage because it is based on human emotions only. People should be ready to weight their personal pros and cons, understand their weak and strong aspects, and make the decisions that are based on past experiences in the present to improve their future. Therefore, a traditional marriage where a husband becomes physical and financial support for a charming and caring wife with or without a child or children seems to be a strong institution that cannot be broken with ages. Traditions are not always bad for people, and traditional marriage is the basis that cannot be neglected or misunderstood.
Works Cited
Blankenhorn, David. The Future of Marriage. Encounter Books, 2013.
Filipovic, Jill. “Traditional Marriage Is Dead. Let’s Celebrate.” The Guardian. 2011. Web.
Girgis, Sherif, Ryan T. Anderson, and Robert P. George. What Is Marriage?: Man and Woman: A Defense. Encounter Books, 2013.
Mars, Frantz. Seeking Love, Marriage and Family: How to Reach Happiness. Xlibris Corporation, 2013.
Stack, Peggy Fletcher. “Love and Marriage: A History That Challenges the Notion of Traditional Marriage.” The Huffington Post. 2014. Web.
Strong, Bryan, and Theodore F. Cohen. The Marriage and Family Experience: Intimate Relationships in a Changing Society. Cengage Learning, 2013.