Post by danl02 on Apr 4, 2008 19:00:23 GMT -5
The early twentieth Century was a revolution for American social life. Vaudevilles had swept the nation, contraceptives were being accepted for the first time, and people were having more money to spend on entertainment than ever. Transportation was widespread, and one could travel from city to city. It was no longer disgraceful for young people to seek fun in ways previously unspeakable. But family life was, however, was an exception to this change. Divorce was still an uncommon practice, and the importance of household unity would remain strong. And since artists often depict their society, such concepts of divorce in stories prove the scarcity of annulments. Thus, based on the on the novels of the time, people of the twentieth century American society had strong values of maintaining the bonds of family despite the century being rife with infidelity.
In August Wilson’s play Fences, neither Troy nor Rose are content living with each other, yet both are willing to maintain their bonds of family even when the husband has an affair with another women. Rose’s former break up makes her wary of the affects of a couple splitting, and her compassion helps her stay with her unfaithful man. She does not do this out of submissiveness; Rose doesn’t leave her husband because she is horrified of the concept of leaving Raynell, Troy’s illegitimate child, unattended. And Troy, despite hating to care for his sons, tries his best to be a good father even though he dreams of fulfilling only his own needs.
Also, the Lomans, the protagonists of Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, too try to stay as one family despite troubles with infidelity and insanity. For instance, the character Biff sees firsthand his father being unfaithful to his wife, yet later tries to convince his dad to avoid the path of painful, broken dreams. And Willy, up till his death, worries about his son. In fact, the old man decided to die in attempt to help Biff, despite the stress that his child brings him. So though the Lomans may come close to blows with each other, they respect each other for being family regardless of what their actions may be.
And despite the torturous yet extravagant lifestyles of the Buchanans of The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, neither spouse is willing to divorce. Daisy claims to have hated the marriage early into their relationship, and a certain Jordan Baker claims that the wife tried to stop the wedding. Yet the moment vows were exchanged, Daisy refuses to leave Tom despite her all her disdain for him. And though Tom actively seeks pleasure in his mistress Myrtle, he hates the concept of divorcing his wife and picking up a new women. Divorce for a common girl would be shameful; Myrtle is a nobody in society, and any marriage of her and Tom’s would be looked down on from the consensus of the rich.
So while spouses may hate each other, the early twentieth century was not one, according to stories of the time, in which people easily divorced each other or betrayed family unity. But today, divorce is far too common, and family ties matter little. Couples divorce despite having to deal with children just as Rose did. If Daisy lived today, she would have divorced Tom the same day the married, and continued to live a rich life. And a little pleasure on the side like, similar to that of Willy Loman, is far to exposed by today's media. So while the desires of men have changed little, society's acceptance of these acts are making tragedies far too common.
In August Wilson’s play Fences, neither Troy nor Rose are content living with each other, yet both are willing to maintain their bonds of family even when the husband has an affair with another women. Rose’s former break up makes her wary of the affects of a couple splitting, and her compassion helps her stay with her unfaithful man. She does not do this out of submissiveness; Rose doesn’t leave her husband because she is horrified of the concept of leaving Raynell, Troy’s illegitimate child, unattended. And Troy, despite hating to care for his sons, tries his best to be a good father even though he dreams of fulfilling only his own needs.
Also, the Lomans, the protagonists of Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, too try to stay as one family despite troubles with infidelity and insanity. For instance, the character Biff sees firsthand his father being unfaithful to his wife, yet later tries to convince his dad to avoid the path of painful, broken dreams. And Willy, up till his death, worries about his son. In fact, the old man decided to die in attempt to help Biff, despite the stress that his child brings him. So though the Lomans may come close to blows with each other, they respect each other for being family regardless of what their actions may be.
And despite the torturous yet extravagant lifestyles of the Buchanans of The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, neither spouse is willing to divorce. Daisy claims to have hated the marriage early into their relationship, and a certain Jordan Baker claims that the wife tried to stop the wedding. Yet the moment vows were exchanged, Daisy refuses to leave Tom despite her all her disdain for him. And though Tom actively seeks pleasure in his mistress Myrtle, he hates the concept of divorcing his wife and picking up a new women. Divorce for a common girl would be shameful; Myrtle is a nobody in society, and any marriage of her and Tom’s would be looked down on from the consensus of the rich.
So while spouses may hate each other, the early twentieth century was not one, according to stories of the time, in which people easily divorced each other or betrayed family unity. But today, divorce is far too common, and family ties matter little. Couples divorce despite having to deal with children just as Rose did. If Daisy lived today, she would have divorced Tom the same day the married, and continued to live a rich life. And a little pleasure on the side like, similar to that of Willy Loman, is far to exposed by today's media. So while the desires of men have changed little, society's acceptance of these acts are making tragedies far too common.