Comparison-Contrast - Essay Example

15 August Marriage vs living together: A lot of people have resolved to cohabit in order to escape the dangers associated with divorce. Owing to the immense increase in the frequency of divorce in the recent years, marriage is seen more as a challenge than an institution. This paper compares marriage with cohabitation.People marry in order to take responsibility whereas others cohabit in order to escape responsibility. When two people marry, they have to play certain roles and responsibilities throughout their life.

They are responsible for each other’s well-being as well as the well-being of the children they produce. Traditionally, husband serves as the bread-earner for the family while the wife manages the household. In the contemporary age, both may be working partners and yet fulfill their respective responsibilities with respect to home. Cohabitation, on the other hand, does not associate any responsibility to any partner because it has no religious or social significance. Just like an individual is not lawfully responsible for a stranger’s needs in the society, a partner living with another does not have to earn for him/her.

Marriage is a much more stable relationship as compared to cohabitation. This is because in marriage, the contract between the two partners is publicly announced and the two have to respect religious teachings regarding marriage. Therefore, married people think a million times before proceeding towards a divorce. Cohabitation is not made with any announcement and most religions deny the followers right to make love in a relationship without marriage. So the cohabiting partners do not really have any solid reason to be together and they may part ways any time.

From a religious perspective, marriage is a noble thing to do while cohabitation is an evil thing to do. When marital partners make love, there is no accountability in the religion for their act. Instead, the religion appreciates their intimacy and promotion of love. On the other hand, when two cohabiting people make love, they practice adultery and commit a heinous sin. They invite God’s wrath and will be held accountable for their act in the world hereafter. Children born to married parents are happier and more contented psychologically as compared to children born to cohabiting parents.

Children of married parents can confidently introduce themselves to the society and associate openly with their parents. They derive their confidence from the fact that their parents are living together in a marital contract that is not only lawfully approved but is also religiously justified. On the other hand, children born to cohabiting parents have to bear the label of “bastard” throughout their life. This word, which is conventionally taken for an abuse becomes their label and they have to grow up and live with it.

This is extremely detrimental to the psychological health of the children. All of the points discussed above suggest that marriage is far more preferable to cohabiting. Marriage makes people responsible and is much more stable than cohabitation. Marriage is religiously justified while cohabitation is condemned. Children born to married parents are more confident than those born to cohabiting parents. Thus, marriage should be preferred to cohabitation.