Unmasking Love: The "Luxurious Illusion" of Modern Marriage - 1/02/2026

Summary

We have sanctified the act of marriage with the beautiful word "love." However, behind that sweet sound lies a cold-hearted "profit and loss calculation" and the truth of "inequality" that we all want to turn a blind eye to. In modern times, marriage, once a lifeline for survival, has transformed into a "luxury hobby" enjoyed only by a select few. This article quietly and surely dismantles the deception of our unconscious view of marriage.

Keywords

Cost of love, freedom of singleness, reproduction of inequality, luxurious community

1. The indulgence called "love"

Marriage used to be a "collaborative effort" for survival. Two people worked together to cultivate a field that could not be cultivated alone. It was a rational way of survival. However, as civilization matured and a society emerged in which even one person could no longer freeze to death, marriage began to take on a different guise. That's the story called "love."

We call devoting our time and effort to another person "love." However, if we take a more objective look at this, we see that it's merely a psychological defense mechanism designed to justify our own sacrifice.

Accepting self-sacrifice = enormous effort + the self-hypnosis of "love."

This story allows us to accept the otherwise irrational act of sharing our precious life with others as "beautiful."

2. A quiet retreat in the name of freedom

In recent years, an increasing number of people are choosing not to marry. Calling this a "diversification of values" is an overly optimistic interpretation. The reality is much more dire.

Everyone has an instinct to avoid lowering their standard of living. In the past, marriage made life easier by uniting two people, but in modern times, when the "freedom to be alone" is weighed against the "burden of carrying someone else's life," the latter weighs overwhelmingly more heavily.

Especially for those who want to protect their careers and assets, marriage represents exposure to unpredictable events. Once entered into, it is a contract that can be extremely painful (emotional and material) to break. Wise people intuitively sense this risk and choose to maintain their own castle. This is not so much freedom as it is a wise retreat resulting from an extreme fear of loss.

3. The "Home" as a Luxury Consumer Good

Today's wedding, home ownership, and children's education. Imagine the enormous savings required for these things. What were once considered "commonplace" have now become symbols of "privilege."

The ideal modern family = abundant financial resources, ample free time, and a sense of commitment.

Only those at the top of the social pyramid can afford these things. For them, marriage has become akin to purchasing brand-name goods, a way to confirm and further solidify their social status.

On the other hand, for those struggling to make ends meet, marriage is nothing more than a trap that leads to a sudden drop in their standard of living. No matter how much we embellish our lives with stories of love, we cannot fill our empty wallets.

4. A Community on the End

We must acknowledge that marriage, once a means of mutual aid for the poor, has now become a pastime for the rich.

The phrase "love will get you through" is a cruel mantra designed to force those who have nothing into making unreasonable investments. In reality, only those with a substantial dowry are allowed to dance gracefully on the stage of "love."

Marriage is no longer a port accessible to everyone. It is now a "members-only salon" where only the victorious, who have crossed stormy waters, can insert their golden key and enter. We continue to hide this inconvenient truth, using the term "free singleness" to leave behind many who cannot even enter the threshold.