Summary

The article reflects on the importance of marriage as depicted in the Netflix show Bridgerton and in historical contexts, arguing that while marriage has traditionally been central to women's lives, modern women are increasingly independent and view marriage as complementary rather than essential to personal happiness and fulfillment.

Abstract

The author expresses thoughts on the representation of marriage in the Netflix series Bridgerton, contrasting its portrayal of romance with the reality of modern relationships. While acknowledging the show's appeal, the author criticizes the toxic relationship dynamics of the main characters, questioning the relevance of such narratives today. Historically, literature and cinema have often focused on the pursuit of marriage as a woman's ultimate goal, but the author notes a shift in societal attitudes, particularly in empowering women to seek personal fulfillment beyond matrimony. The article advocates for marriages based on equality, mutual respect, and love rather than necessity or societal expectation, emphasizing that personal happiness should not be solely dependent on being married.

Opinions

The author believes that marriage should not be the defining factor of a woman's life or happiness, emphasizing personal ambition and fulfillment.
The article suggests that the romanticized and sometimes toxic portrayal of relationships in media, such as in Bridgerton, is outdated and not reflective of modern, healthy marriages.
It is highlighted that marriage has evolved, and contemporary marriages should be partnerships of equals with mutual respect and support.
The author is of the opinion that women are now more focused on finding love and emotional support in marriage rather than financial stability or social acceptance.
The article points out that independent women view marriage as an optional enhancement to their already fulfilling lives.
The author is critical of the societal pressure on women to prioritize marriage over personal development and career aspirations.
The importance of learning relationship skills to maintain healthy marriages and other relationships is emphasized.
The author calls for a redefinition of marriage to better align with the values of equality and respect, suggesting that happiness in marriage stems from the quality of the relationship rather than the institution itself.

Woman’s Life — Why Marriage is Important Or May be Not!

My thoughts after watching Netflix Show — Bridgerton

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/ytNYMhdHAw0

“Il vaut mieux prévenir que guérir” — It is better to prevent than to heal. — French Proverb

Honestly, I didn’t plan to watch this show until my friends strongly suggested that I watch it. They liked the show’s theme, colorful-bright dresses, big mansions, and of course chemistry and steamy romance between lead characters — Daphne and Simon.

Bridgerton show is enjoyable, no doubt in that but the important thing to acknowledge is that Daphne and Simon’s relationship is not the example of love or marriage that we should follow or aspire to be. Their relationship is utterly toxic.

I like the romantic genre, period drama, but somehow this show seems a bit shallow with over-the-top fantasies.

Just to give a background, Bridgerton is an adaptation of the eight-book series Regency romance novels by Julia Quinn and based on the first book — The Duke and I. It takes place in the early part of the 19th century.

There have been many books, articles written for centuries where the only purpose of women is to find a suitable husband and to get married. Some of those books and even movies worked for me because there was a deftness and they are true to their time.

If you have read Jane Austen — Pride and Prejudice or Louisa May Alcott — Little Women or Margaret Mitchel — Gone with the Wind, they highly focused on women’s life, daily struggle, and why it’s important to find a husband during their time. And even after centuries, we still see the shows that deprecate a woman’s purpose just to get married.

Even when Greta Gerwig (BTW, I am a fan of her work!) directed movies like Little Women — when you already know the story and many movies have been made on the same book. It still somehow worked in today’s world where each character has freshness while standing on its own as an independent and keeping the feel of the book and time the book was written.

Since that time, Marriage has evolved a lot when women had to marry just to survive or to produce kids and heirs.

For women, marriage is a complete adjustment of life and whatnot. In today’s time, marriage is not as important as it used to be and not the only way to find happiness in life.

If you ask me, I can give you my top 10 reasons to NOT get married! And it’s not because I am against marriage or anything, it’s because we want to empower ourselves as a woman.

I’m pretty liberal and open in my thinking and opinions. With time, my feelings about marriage have changed a lot and decided not to marry just for marriage’s sake.

If I find someone who shows through their actions that my life, ambition, career and desires are just as valued as their own, then I would love nothing more than to get married. But it’s okay if that doesn’t happen, too.

There is a vicious cycle every woman lives in where marriage is the only thing that seems fitting after finishing college and getting a job.

Not so long ago in our society — especially in India, women were ready to sacrifice their work, ambition to get married to the — prince charming that they dream of their whole life or their parents/relatives think they do. But that mindset has changed at least changing slowly.

The relationship between marriage and happiness is bi-directional and it’s mostly give and take to lead a sustainable and long marriage.

Today’s modern women, no longer wait for their soulmate or hunting down the world to find a Perfect Man or invest their time to find a suitable husband with a high-class profession, character, and 7 figure impressive salary. I am not saying every woman wants to get married one day.

It’s what you do to foster happiness as an individual and a spouse that makes a difference, not marriage all by itself.

Women are becoming independent and powerful in society more than ever. They have their ground to stand on, ambition, and of course not abandoning the institution of marriage and its values but rather working harder to have marriage evolve to become something that works better, and is happier, for both partners with a sense of purpose and harmony.

Ideals have changed around marriage and it’s about equality, respect, financial freedom, and accepting each other’s choices. Love and emotional support are the key reasons that women marry now, not a financial necessity or social pressure.

Marriage doesn’t make you happy, Happy marriages make you happy.

Marriage itself is not magic and can not guarantee happiness and won’t automatically make you a happy and fulfilling person overnight. To build a happier life, both women and men — all need something better than magic or first sight falling in love moment.

While the societal views on marriage as an institution are still strong and unchangeable especially in my country like India or maybe some of the parts of the world still are.

But Independent women across the globe think the world will not end if that doesn’t happen, I certainly do. It’s more of a bonus to a happily functioning life they are already leading and living.

We can learn the specific skills we need to forge and maintain better relationships of all kinds including marriage.

The tools we have in our hands must empower us to be the change we wish to see in the world around us.

The best marriages are those built on deep love, strong mutual respect, and a sense of equality.

Do share your thoughts, how it evolved you and what are the things you know or knew before you decided to take the vow — “till death do us apart”.

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