The document discusses various topics related to marriage through history including arranged marriages in medieval times, the emergence of romantic love and nuclear families in the 18th century, rising divorce rates in the 20th century, and changing views on gender roles and individualism. It also examines symbols in the 15th century painting "Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife" representing faithfulness and fertility in marriage.

1. The images used appear to be in the public domain. If any picture is used inappropriately, please let me know I will correct it immediately.

2. "The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." -- Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson According to many recent studies of well-being one of the most important factor in providing happiness is close social relations particularly in the family. People who are married are happier than those who are not.

3. Christopher Lasch begins his book with this question: ‘ why has family life become so painful, marriage so fragile, relations between parents and children so full of recrimination?’ (p.xiv)

6. Luther Paves the Way Martin Katharina von Bora

7. Ordered by Father By attraction Political Reason

8. Presentation of Marie de Medici’s Portrait to Henri IV Wedding by Proxy of Marie de’ Medici to King Henri IV, 1606

9. Charlotte de Montmorency Long Distance Marriage for Diplomatic Reasons Flounders She is fifteen and he is 57 Henry IV

10. William Hogarth, Marriage à la Mode, 1743 Lawyer Silvertongue Lord Squanderfield Son Squanderfield Bride Father of Bride http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_%C3%A0-la-mode

11. Scene 2, Shortly after Marriage. Exhausted husband from a night on the town –(brothel?). Lady’s cap in his master’s pocket. It is breakfast time, the woman is already tired. There was card playing in night. The butler is disgusted: The household is in chaos. The butler leaves despairingly, a clutch of bills Religious pictures Behind curtain erotic picture

12. The Visit to the Quack Doctor Count visiting an avaricious doctor with two women, to determine who gave him a sexual disease

13. The Countess’s Levee (Toilette) Marriage a la Mode, Scene 4 She is now a countess and mother. The lawyer Silvertongue invites her to a masquerade 'Jupiter and Io‘ 'Lot and his Daughters' Lawyer Silvertongue Countess husband

14. The Death of the Earl, Count catches his wife with her lover, Lover kills Husband. As she comforts the stricken man, the murderer in his nightshirt makes a hasty exit through her bedroom window.

15. The Suicide of the Countess, Countess poisons herself in her grief and poverty-stricken widowhood, after her lover is hanged for murdering her husband.

16. The 18 th Century the small nuclear families emerged. They were a product of a greater freedom in individual choice (young men set up business/farm and get married; They marry women who could help their business; together they take advantage of the economic opportunities made available

19. In India – People in arranged marriages reported more romantic love after 5 yrs of marriage – than People who married for love (Gupta & Singh, 1982)

20. The Donna Reed Show, 1958-1966 Leave It to Beaver 1957-1963 Father Knows Best, 1954-1958 The Ozzie & Harriet Show 1952-1966 Toward the End of the Victorian – Traditional Family

24. The Median Age at Which Americans Marry for the First Time is Rising

26. Never Married

28. Playing with fire 10 times more common than 30 years ago About 40% will be at one time or other in a cohabiting family

29. The divorce rate in the US has risen fivefold since 1910

30. Divorce Current divorce rates imply that half of all marriage will end in divorce

31. What Percentage of Americans are Divorced?

35. 1960 1995

38. Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife (Wedding Portrait) Jan Van Eyck 1434 http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Giovanni+Arnolfini+and+His+Wife%2C+ppt&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

39. Green dress -hope white cap – purity red curtains- physical love, carnal union The small medallions are from the Passion of Christ, represent God’s promise of salvation for the figures reflected on the mirror’s convex surface, which in turn, represent the eye of God observing the vows of the wedding. Jan van Eyck’s message (symbolism)

40. Jan van Eyck’s message (symbolism) cont. The single burning candle in the chandelier represents " the ever present Jesus Christ in the marriage” The cast off shoes indicate the bride and groom stand on holy ground as they are married. The dog represents the faithfulness in marriage.

41. Jan van Eyck’s message (symbolism) cont. The mirror, like the chandelier and candle, represent God's all-seeing eye. The oranges probably represent fertility and prosperity. The small statue on the bed post is of Saint Margaret, who is the patron saint of childbirth.