The Romance Novel Marriage Essay - 1327 Words

The Romance Novel Marriage From the moment they saw each other they knew they were the perfect pair. They knew instantly that the other was their soul mate. It was love at first sight. This knowledge is followed by amazing sex. Then the ecstatic couple gets married and lives Happily Ever After. Im talking about the modern day adult fairy tale, also known as the romance novel. Ive been reading these novels since I was in the seventh grade. My first one was titled Bitter Sweet, written by Laverle Spencer, and was found in my moms closet. From there I graduated to the more sordid novels with half-naked people on the covers. My adolescent mind was absolutely fascinated and I could not wait until I found my guy and could experience†¦show more content†¦But they do apply to a major part of the married population, so for those who scoff too quickly at my words, you may want to take a second look. I do not, in any way, want marriage to become harder to dissolve. I want legalities and governments to stay out of these affairs as much as possible. What I want is for individuals to bring their heads out of the clouds for just a moment and really ponder how happy theyll be once their spouse is out of their life. Will you be happy with that new person you have in mind, whether youve actually met them or not? What happens when the new wears off, and your new mate is not romance novel material either? More signatures and lawyers to erase that marriage too? These are the questions that Polly Shulman asks in her article titled Great Expectations. Her answer is that the basic problem comes from waiting for something better to come along, something closer to a romantic novel: The reality is that few marriages or partnerships consistently live up to this ideal. The result is a commitment limbo, in which we care deeply for our partner but keep one stealthy foot out the door of our hearts. In so doing, we subject the relationship to constant review: Would I be happier, smarter, or a better person with someone else? Its a painful modern quandary. Nothing has produced more unhappiness than the concept of the soul mate, says Atlanta psychiatrist Frank Pittman. (Shulman 570) In order for relationshipsShow MoreRelatedJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice861 Words   |  4 PagesCriticism of the Romantic Novel† written by Koh Tsin Yen, Yen thoroughly explains a deeper meaning of Pride and Prejudice from both hers and Austen’s perspective of the novel. In Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, which takes place in the 19th century, Austen portrays marriage and social class as two themes with an extreme importance. While tying together two similar points of views, Yen also incorporates Austen s themes from her novel as well. Throughout the novel several elements are incorporatedRead More Essay on Pride and Prejudice as Romantic Novel and Romantic Criticism1398 Words   |  6 PagesPride and Prejudice as Romantic Novel and Romantic Criticism       To a great extent, Jane Austen satirizes conventional romantic novels by inverting the expectations of love at first sight and the celebration of passion and physical attractiveness, and criticizing their want of sense. However, there are also elements of conventional romance in the novel, notably, in the success of Jane and Bingleys love.    The first indication of Austens inversion of accepted romantic conventionsRead MoreJane Eyre by Emily Bronte747 Words   |  3 PagesBrontà «s novel, Jane Eyre, is present in this short quote, which describes the mystery that is present within the novel. As well as its gothic sensation, romance is present as well, giving the novel its feminine characteristics. Foreshadowing is a main aspect which helps prolong the suspense in the novel. The element of foreshadowing helps the reader foresee the upcoming events in the novel. These gothic elements create a mysterious plot within the novel, which escalates during the climax. Novels in theRead MoreMadame Bovary Relationship1574 Words   |  7 PagesIn Gustav Flaubert’s novel Madame Bovary, Emily and Charles’ relationship is what the reader follows throughout the entire story. The dynamic of their relationship and their individual characteristics don’t mesh well together, and end in their eventual downfall as a coup le and as characters individually. Emma and Charles each show themes of the novel through their characteristics and points of view in their relationship. Emma Bovary has unrealistic ideas about love and wants to have a luxurious lifeRead More Fleeting Satisfaction in Madame Bovary Essay1474 Words   |  6 PagesFleeting Satisfaction in Madame Bovary      Ã‚   The desire to have romance, rapture, and passion can often times be fleeting and momentary where as the foundation of true love and commitment generally stands solid throughout many trials. In Madame Bovary (1857), a novel written by Gustave Flaubert, the main character of the story, Emma Bovary, finds both passion and commitment in different facets yet she chooses to yield herself to the desires of her heart and seek out passion in other menRead MoreEssay on Jane Austens Attitudes to Marriage in Persuasion1231 Words   |  5 PagesJane Austens Attitudes to Marriage in Persuasion In Persuasion, marriage is one of the major themes of the novel, and Austens attitudes towards marriage are present in chapter four of the novel. The first episode in which we can examine Austens attitudes to marriage is in chapter four. In chapter four we must notice that there is no direct speech, which shows that all of the narration is Austen, with her views and opinions being presented to us. When talking of Mr. Wentworth, AustenRead MoreThe Film Industry Is Driven To Find Simple But Effective1321 Words   |  6 Pagesromantic roles and convince both men and women that a female is destined for marriage. This prevailing idea of traditional women designed for marriage is exemplified in Harlequin novels that are notorious for their book covers and cliched storyline: Strong, muscular man meets beautiful, submissive woman and they overcome obstacles and fall in love. Similar to the King and I (1956) and Anna and the King (1999), these novels rely on the coupling of its male and female characters to obtain positive feedbackRead MoreEmma s View Of Love1219 Words   |  5 Pageswill always be dissatisfied. She destroyed her own marriage before it even started because of her preconceived idea of love. Charles is absolutely in love with Emma and would do anything for her but she does not feel the same way about him due to her fairytale idea of love. It seems as if she is not capable of separating he r real life romances from the romance novels that she read when during her time at the convent. In Gustave Flaubert’s novel, Madame Bovary, Emma Bovary is unknowingly a slaveRead MoreIn What Ways Does Rebecca Demonstrate and Subvert the Conventions of the Romantic Genre?†1141 Words   |  5 Pagesdemonstrate and subvert the conventions of the romantic genre?† In Rebecca du Maurier appears to conform to the conventions of the romantic genre however, du Maurier has also subverted the genre of romance through her representation of the relationship between the narrator and Maxim and the structure of the novel. She has also incorporated of elements of the gothic genre and the psychological thriller. On the surface Rebecca appears to demonstrate the conventions of the romantic genre. The storylineRead MoreThe Power of Sympathy990 Words   |  4 PagesThis is so women wont fall for seduction or be the seducer themselves. Education is used throughout the narrative. Women need an education, and by being virtuous and religious these are the main foundations of a proper education. This novel wants to educate women on seduction and how easily seduced, without question, women are about their lovers. When women receive an education it is teaching them to be self sufficient and rational. By being self sufficient women wont follow other