Marriage in American Cukture

The model marriage in present American culture is one which is based upon love and happiness. This principle is emphasized through the “happily ever after” themes in most fairy tales. Contrastingly, during the Renaissance, this ideal was rarely considered in negotiations of marriage. Matrimony was considered more in terms of business negotiations, often arranged between business associates and those of similar social stature. Marriage was primarily a social, political and economical merging of two families for reasons such as promoting social status and reputation, strengthening political and economical ties, and maintaining social hierarchy.

For most women, marriage was a form of obtaining economic stability. Women who married within or beyond their societal level would ensure the preservation of the lifestyle they were accustomed to. In tax records, the wife is listed as the benefactor for the husband’s financial assets. Women would be able to improve their social rank by marrying into a higher class. “Beautiful Florentine women of lowly origins often married men who were their social superiors and who did not insist on a dowry from their brides.” (Brucker, 50) Marriage also was one of the only ways for a woman to gain power. Women, who were married to men with more political and financial power, subsequently had more political power than those who were married within a lower social level. In efforts to gain more independence women would aim to marry a man with high political standings. “Lussana’s story describes one woman’s struggle to gain a measure of personal independence in a male-dominated world.” (Brucker, 93) In addition, marriage was a way of salvaging one’s reputation and the reputation of one’s family. The marital status of a woman reflected on the success of the family line they came from. If a woman was to conduct herself in a manner that was deemed unfit by the status quo, it would reflect poorly on her family name. Such a woman would have “violated her marriage vow and dishonored herself, her husband, and her family.” (Brucker, 89) Women, who have conducted adulterous affairs sought to redeem themselves by marrying their lover. This idea is also seen through Lussana’s constant need for the reaffirmation of Giovanni’s promise to commit.

As far as men were concerned, marriage during the Renaissance was seen as more of a relationship between business associates than a bond between man and woman. Most weddings involved an exchange of a dowry, mostly consisting of money and other valuables. The value of the dowry presented reflected upon the social status of both the husband and the wife. A man who had a high economic and political status would require a dowry that consisted of thousands of florins. These men of high status would be able to wait until their thirties before considering marriage proposals. Marriage was also a way of strengthening ties between families involved in business dealings. A woman such as Lusanna, “With her dowry of 250 florins and her family connections,” (Brucker, 90) could marry well for a daughter of an artisan. When entering into a marriage, men would gain more connections to people of social and political importance.

Marriages were also a form of upholding social hierarchy. Society would define limitations regarding social interactions. “The community naturally sought to control these encounters by defining limits and imposing penalties upon transgressors. Such restraints functioned most effectively upon upper-class women, whether nubile, married, or widowed.” (Brucker, 77) Marriage was considered a very public event, similar to announcements of company mergers.

Florentine marriages were typically public and ritualized affairs, the product of lengthy and arduous negotiations between relatives and friends of the families and often abetted by professional matchmakers. A preliminary and private agreement between the parties was symbolized by an exchange of handshakes.