ABSTRACT
In early America, the community had a vested interest in not allowing marriages to dissolve. Michael Vincent Miller echoes this theme in one of his most critical insights in the book. In a similar vein, he later reflects on a message which substantiates a common theme about divorce. He says that "marriage does indeed seem well on its way to becoming one of our most violent institutions". He ends the book by apologizing for portraying marriage in such a negative light throughout the book and attempts to deliver more comforting thoughts. For those who have been through a divorce, he offers the consolation that, indeed, first marriages may amount to "no more than dress rehearsal for the real thing". Michael Vincent Miller suggests that we start thinking of marriage as an opportunity to learn to love another person. And, yes—he admits that, while this process may be pleasurable at times, it also requires perseverance, dedication, and work.
