Marriage of convenience (2024)

Marriage of convenience is the fusion of two bodies that is not based on love but on some other interests and motives. Some of the goals behind marriage of convenience are immigration, social status, family pressure, political alliances, and social acceptance. It is a vast and versatile topic. It is more a subjective debate and vary from situation to situation. It can be a pragmatic and rational choice or a deliberate eruption of the volcano of unhappiness in ones life.

A marriage of convenience is based on actual and realistic expectations, rather than utopian and chimerical fantasies. The partners know what they want and what they can offer, and they agree on the terms and conditions of their relationship. They do not have to worry about falling in or out of love, or being disappointed or betrayed by their partner. They can focus on their own motives and interests, and respect each other’s boundaries and autonomy.A marriage of convenience can provide practical and material benefits that can improve the quality of life of the partners. A marriage of convenience can be a pragmatic response to the challenges and pressures of modern society, such as globalization, migration, individualism, consumerism, or feminism. A marriage of convenience can help one partner adapt to a new culture.

On the contrary a marriage of convenience is based on narcissistic and ostensible motives, rather than genuine and meaningful values. The partners do not care about each other’s personality or feelings, but only about their own benefits or interests. They do not share a common vision or purpose, but only a temporary and conditional agreement. They do not have a real relationship, but only a fake and hollow frontage .A marriage of convenience can have negative and harmful consequences that can erode the happiness and well-being of the partners. For example, a marriage of convenience can expose one partner to legal or ethical problems, such as fraud, mendacity, or blackmail. A marriage of convenience can also expose one partner to emotional or psychological problems, such as guilt, shame, resentment, or depression.

It is often used in literature as a plot device to create conflict, tension, and drama between the characters. Some of the aspects in which marriage of convenience is used are, to explore the themes of love, trust, loyalty, and sacrifice. For example, how does a couple who married for practical reasons develop feelings for each other? How do they overcome the hurdles and challenges that their marriage entails? How do they balance their personal desires and their marital duties? Or to reflect the historical and social context of the story. For example, how does a marriage of convenience affect the status, reputation, and power of the characters in a certain time period or culture? How does it relate to the norms and expectations of marriage in that society? How does it influence the political and economic dynamics of the story? Or to create contrast and comparison with other types of marriages or relationships. Some of the literary works that featured and portrayed marriage of convenience includes Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The marriage between Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins. Charlotte marries Mr. Collins for security and financial stability, as she is not young or beautiful enough to attract a better match. Austen portrays this marriage as a pragmatic and rational choice, but also as a sad and disappointing one. Charlotte sacrifices her happiness and independence for a comfortable life, and she loses the friendship and respect of Elizabeth, who values love and compatibility over money and status. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell in which Scarlett O’Hara marries Charles Hamilton, Frank Kennedy, and Rhett Butler for different reasons of convenience, such as money, security, and revenge. She does not love any of them, and only realizes her true feelings for Rhett when it is too late, is also a good portrayal of this plot in different dimensions.

Cinematic literature is also of great importance when it comes to portrayal of the intensity of a certain theme in our society. Many of the movies like The Proposal (2009),Green Card (1990),The Wedding Banquet (1993) depicted this topic in different shades of love, lust and greed.

Marriage of convenience is usually sketched as a harsh debate but it differs greatly from a forced marriage. A forced marriage is a marriage in which one or both of the parties is married without their consent or against their will. A forced marriage is a violation of human rights and a form of domestic violence. Forced marriages are often associated with cultural, religious, or social pressures, and may involve threats, coercion, or violence . It always involves the lack of consent of one or both parties, and may also involve physical or emotional abuse, deception, or fraud. For example, some forced marriages are carried out by kidnapping, trafficking, or blackmailing the victims. Other forced marriages are based on false promises, lies, or manipulation . Marriage of convenience do not include the above drastic factors.

The prevalence and legality of marriages of convenience vary by country and region. According to the web search results, marriages of convenience are often contracted to exploit legal loopholes, such as gaining citizenship, right of abode, or social benefits. According to a survey 55% of marriages all over the world are are arranged ones which are not distinctively Marriage of Convenience but may involve some degree of coercion or lack of consent .Some countries have laws and policies to prevent and detect marriages of convenience, especially for immigration purposes.

CONCLUSION:

To sum up we can say that, a marriage of convenience is a personal choice that may work for some people and not for others. It is a dynamic and versatile topic rather than an objective or fixed one. It may be a rational and pragmatic decision, or it may be a desperate and unhappy one. It may be a temporary solution, or it may be a lifelong commitment. It may be a source of stability, or it may be a source of resentment. It all depends on how the people in the marriage of convenience communicate, respect, and support each other.