One of the freakier thoughts that has occurred to me lately is the possibility that the prime reason for one's existence is
procreation and furthering of the species. That's what all living things do, beyond doubt. They screw!
Every act of life seems to be aimed at this as the final goal. Even aesthetics,
mind you. Correlations are deep and intricate, but it may suffice to mention
here that, a developed aesthetic sense implies a higher level of evolution and
therefore a better mate.
Isn't it profoundly depressing to realise that we are all here only because
someone screwed someone! I mean, at a fundamental level, while doing it, no one stops to wonder as to how a good
human being will develop out of the whole process!
Procreation & Marriage
Among human beings, this social function called 'marriage' seems like a vague
attempt to cover the fact that at the end of the whole jazz, basically the two
people concerned are getting a license for free and fair sex. What other significant
difference occurs in their individual lives apart from 'THIS', which otherwise
would not have occured in a really good long term friendship with a person of the
opposite sex?
So, is the custom of marriage some sort of a moral cover up?
I could have said here that I appreciate other animals, for they at least don't
cover it up. And accept boldly their need to propagate. But they
hardly have a choice. And moreover, they are not on Mouthshut.
Human beings, with all their intelligence and years of evolution, are the only
species that seems to have an in built control mechanism against 'free and fair
sex'. The only biologically and environmentally sound reason that I can think of, for such a control,
is overpopulation and resulting depletion of resources. The irony is, that human beings are also
the highest in number! what control are we talking here?
I am thus, unable to comprehend, the reasons for the existence of
"marriage" as a custom. What does it do? Commitments can happen
without it. In fact they do happen without it. And marriages break too. I have known
extremely successful live-in relationships, and equally successful marriages.
Then where is the differentiator? Where is the need of a mandatory custom called marriage in
order to either have a life long companion, or to procreate freely?
Marriage As Celebration
One sane justification of marriage that I tend to agree with is, marriage being
a symbol of celebration of commitment. Celebration of a beginning of companionship! Great...
but why does it then extend into a legal contract? And multiple social
obligations?
Here is a short hypothetical account of the possible origin of marriage,
with celebration is the premise.
Marriage originated as just an occasion for celebration. Two people met and fell in love. They liked each other so much that they felt on top of the world and wanted to share this feeling with other people. So they threw a party. This party was primarily
a symbol of the fact that something worth celebrating has happened in the
lives of those two people. Soon the trend caught up and these parties became very
frequent. And slowly throwing the party became more important than the original reason for it.
One day, a smarty pants, who wasn't getting a companion and was either too lazy to woo one or too eager to wait for the right one, realised that he just had to
showcase the symptom (party), and the cause (companionship) will be assumed. So
he got another dumbass who wasn't getting a companion and started celebrating. That, I think, was the first day when the custom of marriage came into existence!
Well, on a simpler note, I don't think marriage should be a compulsion. Either social, or moral! Neither is it necessary for a successful relationship, nor does it
guarantee lifelong companionship in any way.
Afterthought
I do realise that these thoughts are radical.
But futility of marriage is a question that, I feel, has failed to lend itself to a
convincing answer.
PS.
This is intended to be partially humorous and mostly serious, but what its not intended is, hurting anyone. So please don't take it to heart.
I realise that marriage is an inescapable reality today, but may not be so in future. And the reason would be the gradual change in the ethos of people. I am ready to be proven wrong.
Its my opinion and a logical sensible debate on this is always welcome.
(Edited from the original in my blog. Was triggered to share this on reading
Kweldeb's Diary https://mouthshut.com/diary/readpost.php?postid=495 )
