Marriage is a union between two people, which is unique through the qualities that each person brings into the relationship. Even though this union is made official and sacred there are times when a marriage does not work out and so, is split apart in a way of divorce. The essay by Anne Roiphe titled “Why Marriages Fail”, analyzes the reasons for the divorce and looks at the qualities of a healthy versus unhealthy marriage (Roiphe 3). Anne Roiphe’s purpose in writing this essay is to highlight what problems a married couple faces, what are the best ways to keep the union strong and how to find ways to overcome hardships (Roiphe 2).
The essay’s general message is that every marriage will definitely have points of conflict, which will test the strength of each person’s feelings towards their partner and the marriage in general. But, also, it gives advice on how to behave in a marriage and what to do in case problem areas develop (Roiphe 3). The target audience consists of people who are adults and are either married or not. For children or teenagers, it would be hard to understand the complexities and nuances of a serious relationship because of lack of life experience and theoretical knowledge. But adults and married couples have gained enough insight into the world and people’s relationships that they can comprehend and use the advice of the article to better their lives. The language of the essay is filled with adjectives that describe the qualities of a conflicting marriage. It identifies the areas that endanger the positive feelings between spouses and then counters the problems with specific explanations of ways to solve these problems. It is precise and understandable by anyone, so that people can benefit from reading the article. In the introduction, Anne Roiphe acknowledges the present society, its changing views and the sacred understanding of marriage (Roiphe 1). It is somewhat a historical comparison, which illustrates how before, people used to make an effort and look for compromises in marriage, whereas now, people simply divorce because it is acceptable by the society and individuals look for easy solutions, which are unreal, impractical and require the least amount of effort. In conclusion, Roiphe gives readers hope and an opportunity to understand what must be done to keep the marriage functioning and in good condition (Roiphe 3). It is a productive way to end the essay because people are reassured that in every situation there is a way out and it all depends on the individuals and their want to work things out. The title “Why Marriages Fail” defines the article by being a guide to illuminate the reasons why marriages cease to exist (Roiphe 1). The article is effective, as it gives specific examples on what to do in a problematic situation and encourages people to try several things before severing the connection. It makes obvious that all the problems between people, even outside of marriage, are based on miscommunication and lack of understanding. It is extremely hard to place oneself into the shoes of another person, to feel and experience the enormous world that is invisible and hidden, even from that individual. Sometimes, it is extremely difficult to stay patient and allow time for understanding but it is absolutely necessary to have a strong will and determination to continue fighting for love and happiness.
Work Cited
Roiphe, Anne. “Why Marriages Fail.” The Short Prose Reader 9th Edition. Ed. Gilbert Muller & Harvey Wiener. New York: McGraw Hill, 2000. 1-3. Print.