Marriage is a social institution that has existed for centuries, but its meaning has changed drastically over time. In the past, marriage was primarily seen as a practical arrangement between families to ensure economic stability and social status. It was rarely centered around love or passion.
During the Romantic era in Europe, marriage began to be viewed more as an emotional and spiritual union between two people. This shift in perspective led to the romanticization of marriage, which in turn destabilized utilitarian family arrangements of the past.
The Romantic movement of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries saw a shift away from rationalism and toward emotions and intuition in art, literature, and philosophy. This trend also influenced attitudes towards marriage, which became less about practical considerations and more about finding true love. Poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge celebrated the power of nature and emotion, while artists such as Joseph Mallord William Turner painted picturesque landscapes of bucolic bliss. This idealized vision of life outside of society influenced attitudes towards marriage, leading many to believe it should be based on passion rather than practicality.
Industrialization and urbanization were creating new economic opportunities and social structures. Women were beginning to leave their homes to work outside the home, and men were spending more time at work and less time with their families. This created a need for companionship and intimacy that traditional utilitarian marriages could not provide. The rise of capitalism also meant that individuals had greater autonomy and freedom to pursue their own interests and desires, including choosing a partner based on personal compatibility rather than familial obligation.
This change did not happen overnight. It took generations for the idea of romance to take hold in society, and even longer for it to become accepted as a valid basis for marriage.
In Victorian England, women were expected to marry young and have children quickly, but as the century progressed, they began to delay marriage until they found someone who met their emotional needs. In some cases, this led to conflict between family expectations and individual desires, especially if there was no mutual understanding or agreement about what constituted a successful union.
The romanticization of marriage changed the way people viewed relationships, creating a tension between practical considerations and emotional fulfillment. Marriage became seen as a way to satisfy both, but often at the expense of other aspects of life such as financial stability and family connections. This shift led to an increase in divorce rates and unconventional lifestyles, which challenged traditional norms.
The romanticization of marriage destabilized utilitarian family arrangements by introducing new expectations and pressures around love, passion, and emotional fulfillment. While these changes have brought many benefits, they also came with costs, such as increased instability and a decline in social cohesion.
The impact of the Romantic movement on marriage continues to be debated today, with some arguing that it has strengthened relationships while others see it as having weakened them.
How did the romanticization of marriage destabilize utilitarian family arrangements of the past?
The romanticization of marriage was not only responsible for the decline of traditional arranged marriages but also for the rise of modern divorce rates. In medieval Europe, marriage was mostly based on economic considerations and procreation rather than love and personal compatibility. As people became more educated and independent, they began to demand more from their partners, leading to an increase in divorces.