This conception of marriage has changed dramatically in societies today especially with the implementation of personal freedom and rights of women. Now, women have proven to be capable of doing what men can do, and vice versa. Women can be breadwinners too while men can cook meals and do house chores too. Nowadays, it is more about oneself, especially with regards to freedom and happiness. In addition, divorce and annulment have also been legalized resulting to the loss of that allegiance bonding that couples used to have and give absolute importance. The concept of marriage being a sacred union has also begun to fade. Some couples choose to live together and start a family even without marriage. This may be seen in the story of “Six Years”, where the unmarried couple has been living together for six years like a normal married couple. With that example in mind, I would say that living in a certain generation should not really be a big factor when it comes to the concept of marriage. Whether past or present, definitely there are no standards for marriage. What matters is how committed the two people involved are willing to make their relationship work.
Being married doesn’t mean getting tied up. In fact, having a married life with children should even be something worth fulfilling. It should be a feeling of voluntary serving and doing things for your loved ones whether preparing meals, making a susceptible home for the children’s rearing, or satisfying partner’s needs. These deeds are done because the person wants to, not because he or she is obligated to. True enough, these may also be called responsibilities, but then, never an obligation. More so, these deeds are done because it is also seen as a way of showing one’s love for the partner and family. An example would be the story “Seventeen Syllables”, where Mrs. Hayashi continues to perform her role as a full time housewife by day despite being preoccupied as a writer by night. True enough, love certainly is the strongest motivating factor in doing these kinds of deeds.
Happiness is in everyone’s desire, not only for oneself but also for the people they love. Sometimes we do things for the sake of another, because we love them and want them to be happy. In order for a lasting relationship, both must be happy with one another. It is also important that both help and support each other in attaining self-fulfillment. In “the Story of an Hour”, this is not what happened. The wife definitely did not feel happy anymore with her husband. Without happiness, it just won’t work.
In any typical relationship, there will always be misunderstandings. Nobody is perfect so we all tend to make mistakes. However, in working a relationship, there must also be acceptance and forgiveness. One must be truly sorry and the other understanding and forgiving, vice versa. In the story “Six Years”, the couple has truly undergone a lot to be able to hang on and be happy together. They have accepted and somehow understood each other completely. They have outgrown their weaknesses and eventually became stronger as a couple.
These are some of the essential things that a couple must have and do to build a lasting relationship. The willingness to achieve this goal depends on the love they have for each other. There must be happiness and contentment in the things they do. Also, nobody is perfect, so learn to forgive and forget. Accept each others faults and learn from mistakes. Whatever generation a couple is in, marriage can always be an everlasting commitment, only if both man and wife will never give up on each other and really have that desire to make it happen.
References
Bloch, Alice. “Six Years”. Annas, Pamela J. and Rosen, Robert C. 429-430.
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour”. Annas, Pamela J. and Rosen, Robert C. 358-360.
Yamamoto, Hisaye. “Seventeen Syllables”. Annas, Pamela J. and Rosen, Robert C. 331-341.
Annas, Pamela J. and Rosen, Robert C. Literature and Society: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Nonfiction. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc, 2007.
Laks, Alexandra. “Marriage”. Cornell Law School. 11 Nov 2005. 19 Sept 2006 <http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Marriage>.
www.wikipedia.org. 25 Sept 2006. Wikipedia: the Free Encylopedia. 26 Sept 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivism>.