Failing Relationships

There are many divorces in today's society.  I have never been married before, but it seems to me as if marriage should be a binding force between two people.  Instead, too many people these days can't keep their relationships alive.


In The Great Gatsby, there are characters who are unhappy in their marriages.  First, there is Daisy and Tom Buchanans.  When Nick first visits his cousin, he can see for his own eyes the troubles in the marriage.  Tom gets up in the middle of the dinner to accept a call from his girl in New York.  Jordan explains to Nick how everyone knows about Tom's affair.  Daisy acts nervous and persistent throughout the meal.  She realizes her husband's unloyalty to her and is possibly embarrassed.The upside is that the reader can tell there is still a connection between Daisy and Tom.  Readers can tell through the quote, "Daisy and Tom looked at each other for a moment in silence."  Here they still have the everlasting bond of a simple glance.  Another troubled marriage is Myrtle and her husband George Wilson.  Myrtle is Tom's mistress.  She reveals how she is no longer in love with her husband, because he acted as someone he wasn't before they were married.  She claims she never really knew her husband until after they got married.  Nick wonders why these two couples don't just divorce each other, and Tom and Myrtle marry each other.  They would be much happier anyways right.  The only obstacle standing in the way is Daisy is rumored to be Catholic.  Catholics don't believe in divorce.  The couples will have to solve their problems with their married partners.

In my opinion if the two couples did decide to divorce, they would only be happy for so long.  Humans are never satisfied.  They always want more.  They wish, hope, and look for more only to come up disappointed again and again.  That is the point of marriage.  "For better or worse...until death do us part."  Marriage is a bond and relationship with one other person for one's entire life.  It's not meant to be easy.  Marriage should be between two very good friends.  For a good friend should always be there when the other needs him.