Define and Argue - Term Paper Example

This paper will discuss five components of lasting marriage with some notable examples from sources that include Moliere’s Tartuffe, Decameron by Boccaccio, Twelfth Night by Shakespeare as well as the film It Happened One Night. Intimacy In order to ensure peaceful co-existence and lasting marriage, a couple must portray the feeling of intimacy. Intimacy entails ability to share thoughts, deep feelings and aspirations (Benedetti 46). A lasting marriage must portray emotional intimacy as well as physical intimacy.

It is worth to note that due to the natural inability for men to share intimacy with other people many marriages collapse. Some of the aspects that depict existence of physical intimacy include love, romance, sexual activity and attachment. Couples engage in marriage as a result of the need to be cared for, be loved and engage in sexual relationship as a way of showing intimacy to their partners. In order for a relationship to have the aspect of intimacy love must exist. Such love is depicted in the Twelfth Night between Olivia and the maiden (Donno, 16).

Two major forms of love include compassionate love and passionate love. According to Donno 25, Passionate love is characterized by strong sexual desire, strong feeling of ecstasy and joy that is caused by the unity of the partners. On the other hand, compassionate love entails mutual commitment, caring, as well as being pride for the success of the other partner. In addition, couples who have compassionate love portray a feeing of satisfaction as a result of sharing objectives and duties among themselves.

Commitment Commitment is a vital aspect that is required for a marriage to last. This implies that each partner must put the needs of the other at the top of all other things in life. One of the major causes of unhealthy relationship is giving priority to other things or people including the children and parents and forgetting the spouse. Couples who recognize marriage as the source of their satisfaction must show commitment in the relationship. In order to create a feeling of happiness in women, it is essential that men portray emotional engagement.

It is worth to note that women happiness is not entirely based on money, assets or sharing of household duties. As depicted in Decameron ninth tale, despite Fedengo uses large amount of money to entice Monna Giovanna, but Monna does not love him. Fedengo becomes poor as a result and with no company apart from his pet. Lack of commitment in most marriages result to reduced trust between the couples. For example in the Decameron second day tale, Madonna Lisetta who is the wife of a rich merchant falls in love with Brother Alberto.

The implication of cheating in marriage is also evident when Alberto lied to Lisetta leading to a love affair between the two that was later discovered leading to humiliation of Alberto (Boccaccio 24). Balance of power This is defined in terms of decision-making and how the married partners perceive equality in power. Even though the power will shift to one spouse or the other occasionally, there is no need for the partner to be too principled, insensitive or submissive. The couples should avoid unnecessary disagreements and turmoil that are caused by their desire