Marriage Essay, Research Paper

In the United States most Americans have trouble understanding the concept of an arranged marriage. Arranged marriages not only affect individuals, but also society. I believe that arranged marriages are better then personal choice marriages. I came to this conclusion on the basis of other cultures other then the culture of the United States. As I went through the text I have found that many cultures presently practice this arrangement, and other have in the past.

Arranged marriages are better for individuals and society in many different factors. First, the bride and groom will receive wealth and other forms of wealth due to the marriage. A few examples of this can be transfer of land and silver or gold. Next, alliances can be made between the two families, lineages, and clans. An example of this is the text of Conformity and Conflict, which states, “The resulting kinship network is a pivotal structure in Indian society”.

In many cultures, arranged marriages are to keep the lineage strong. This is done mostly through patrilineages, which are closely related members, all descended form a known ancestor. In doing this the family status will not change as much. Another example would be for political or diplomatic purposes. Many marriages are arranged to keep peace and unity among certain feudal lords during the midevil times. Royalty can also arrange marriages, this is to keep the bloodline pure.