Fiddler on the Roof

Within Fiddler on the Roof, one tradition that the story focused on was that of arranged marriages. The concept of having marriages arranged for young adults rose out of the social custom that a parent is expected to care for (and make decisions for) a child until that child has left the parent's care (not necessarily just physically, but symbolically via marriage). Another common justification in religious sects (such as that in the play) is that by objectifying relationships and not allowing children to do anything that they please, there is higher conformity to norms of sexual abstinence. I would say that the key problem with this concept is simply that it doesn't fit with today's notion of individual freedom for all- today, we feel that people should be able to make decisions for themselves. I think that that freedom is one of the pillars of a just society so this tradition (while I do not disrespect those who choose to willingly participate in it) is not something that I would wish to have for myself.

Mariage Wasn't Love, Mariage Isn't Love

In Fiddler On a Roof, they cover the change between marriage as a business transaction to an expression of love. Today most people would say that marriage is an expression of love. To that I would question the many aspects of marriage as a business tradition that have survived the test of time. These aspects include the switching of the girls last name, the combining of assets, the financial obligation to support a divorced spouse, the practice of being a housewife, and others. I think that marriage is still business. Even the ceremony of marriage reflects a business transaction. People want marriages to be publicly celebrated with family and friends not an intimate affair reflecting love. A marriage isn't really about the couple it's about the people who feel they had some say in the relationship. If it was love how could mom, dad, aunt Becky or your college roommate have had any say in that relationship? A mariage has little to nothing to do with loving someone. A marriage means you are so positive you will stay together forever that you will put a wager on it. You wager half of everything you have in the hopes of staying together forever. Is that love?