Of Marriage and Single Life

Central Argument: Both being single or married has advantages as well as disadvantages; when man is single, he has the freedom yet does not have the caring mind a married man would have.

 In his essay, Of Marriage and Single Life, Francis Bacon writes about the advantages as well as the disadvantages of being either single or married men. He believes that Marriage life and single life both have positive and negative outcomes. I have a similar perspective or view point with that of Bacon. Looking at people around me, I can see the married and single men’s good or bad stands in their life.

One of the examples that shows single men are free is my uncle J. He is around 34 years old, the age people slowly think of him as an old bachelor. But I find uncle J very satisfied with his life. He graduated Columbia University of New York, he is popular, he is smart, and he enjoys working as a teacher admired by girls at a Korean Institution of English. He says that he does not have to return home at specific timings and need not worry anyone when he comes home late due to delayed work. He manages his finance on his own; he said it’s very comfortable. But one day, on our way to a camping trip, he shouted at my cousin for being very immature, and this incident made me agree with Francis Bacon’s statement that single men “are more cruel and hardhearted.”

I remember that day my mom told me that her brother-in-law, S, was quite upset when uncle J shouted at his son, my cousin. Maybe uncle J was right to try to educate the kid to be more mature, yet he couldn’t understand that little child’s immaturity by nature. All children pass a stage of immaturity; uncle J seemed to have no idea about it and simply scolded the child in front of the child’s parents. Uncle J, on the other hand, showed great understanding about kids the other day in a wedding. A kid spilled food on uncle J’s shirt while running around the hallway, and uncle J’s white shirt was dyed with different food colors. However, uncle S didn’t scold the child; instead, he asked the child to be careful not to get hurt anywhere while running.

Uncle S’s friend, however, told me once when he visited our house that he feels left out when Uncle S keeps on backing out on going for more outings or spending time with his friends. And so, Francis Bacon’s statement is right once again. Knowing Uncle S, he must have “transmit[ted] [his] dearest pledges” – spending time with his friends.

 
Being single is good. Being married is also good. However, both have disadvantages, either losing freedom or lacking magnanimity. Hence, in whichever situation men may be, they should enjoy as much freedom or ability given to them.