ABSTRACT
The first thing to be realized is that the Trobriander has no full status in social life until the author is married. A bachelor has no household of his own, and is debarred from many privileges. There are, in fact, no unmarried men of mature age, except idiots, incurable invalids, old widowers and albinos. Several men were widowed during he stay in the Islands, and others were deserted by their wives. The former remarried almost as soon as their mourning was over, the latter as soon as their attempts at reconciliation had proved fruitless. Once released from mourning, a widow again becomes marriageable. One very important reason for marriage, from the man's point of view, is economic advantage. Marriage brings with it a considerable yearly tribute in staple food, given to the husband by the wife's family. These are the reasons - social, economic, practical and sentimental - which urge a man towards marriage.
