Chapter XXVI
Samuel Johnson
Johnson's observation draws on a tension prevalent in 18th-century society, where marriage was both an economic contract and a personal commitment. The era saw the rise of companionate marriage, emphasizing emotional bonds over mere alliances, yet it remained fraught with practical difficulties. Johnson critiques both paths, but his words challenge the assumption that independence grants true contentment. The supposed freedom of celibacy, he argues, might leave one adrift, devoid of the shared joys and struggles that define human connection.