Life — June 9, 1921 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "What Is Marriage?" by Don Marquis This satirical piece defines marriage through contrasting perspectives—cynical, romantic, religious, and practical. Marquis uses various "speakers" (the Cynic, the Bride, the Flapper, King Solomon, St. Paul, a Pessimist, etc.) to humorously expose marriage's contradictions. The central illustration depicts a couple at what appears to be a social gathering, surrounded by drink glasses and cigarette smoke—likely referencing 1920s Jazz Age culture and the social anxieties it provoked among traditionalists. The French caption suggests European sophistication, typical of *Life* magazine's urbane tone. The overall message: marriage means different things to different people, often creating conflict between romantic ideals and harsh realities. It's gentle social commentary on matrimonial expectations versus lived experience.