A Bachelor's Complaint of the Behavior of Married People,

by Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb's essay "A Bachelor's Complaint of the Behavior of Married People" is just what the
title suggests it is indeed "a bachelor's complaint of the behavior of Married People!" Lamb
emphasi"es his single status in the start of the essay "As a single man" and in doing so# separates
himself from the "Married People!" $e tal%s about Married People as if they are disli%eable and
offensive and gives both hypothetical and personal e&amples to bac% up his points! $e believes that
Married People "prefer one another to the entire world" and openly flaunt it# thus offending singles
such as Lamb by implying that they "are not the object of this preference!" 'urthermore# Lamb
presents that overall# singles are loo%ed down on by Married People who always pose to be
undoubtedly more favored and %nowledgeable! (he main complaint that Lamb is ma%ing throughout
the whole essay is about the Married People's attitudes and how they demonstrate their status! $e
goes as far as to "the airs which these creatures give themselves when they come to have children
)and# by using the negative aspects of children# he furthers his disapproval of Married People and
their actions!
Lamb's purpose in writing "A Bachelor's Complaint of the Behavior of Married People" is to bring to
attention the attitudes of Married People! $e wishes for his audience to reali"e how Married People
subconsciously flaunt themselves in their love# offending those who are single! *ltimately# he hopes
that Married People will bring themselves to correct their mista%es and be more considerate towards
others! $e structures his argument by stating his main reason for decrying Married People is because
he believes them to be overly involved with each other and their love that they disregard and "per% it
up in the faces of +singles, so shamelessly!" 'rom this claim# Lamb offers personal anecdotes as well
as hypothetical situations that illustrate and support his points! $e concludes his essay stating that
although he despises their attitudes# he is still willing to "forgive their jealousy and dispense with
toying with their brats "but thin%s it "unreasonable to be called upon to love them!" (hrough Lamb's
willingness to forgive these people whom he disapproves of# he is seen to be credible with good
values and his readers are more inclined to believe his words and wor% to correct the attitudes of
Married People!
(he structure of Lamb's argument logically appeals to his readers# for it flows and clarifies his points
through e&amples! $owever# Lamb fails to address any possible counterarguments! $is argument
addresses only the negative aspects of Married People# but surely there are positive sides as well! By
failing to address and disprove these possibilities# Lamb leaves room for doubt! -espite this# his
argument stands strong the e&amples he gives are cogent and# through his personal anecdotes# he is
able to establish a connection with the audience! $e also appeals emotionally especially to the
singles# for he is a bachelor himself! (he injustice that he sometimes feels can appeal to others who
have felt the same way! .verall# Lamb appeals effectively to his readers through his use of pathos#
ethos# and logos! Although there are some flaws in his arguments# they are overloo%ed and
undermined by his credibility and emotional appeal!
Lamb's style of writing in this essay is fairly collo/uial! $e is very assertive in his argument# and states
his points with conviction and support! (hese assertions are highlighted by his occasional use of
italics throughout the essay! At the beginning of the essay# Lamb firmly establishes a line between him
and Married People simply by capitali"ing "Married People!" 0n doing so# he sets them apart in their
own group of Married People# symboli"ing that this is truly how it is in reality too Married People set
themselves apart in their own groups through their attitudes! (hey really do seem to be off in their
own little world of love# and this is what Lamb disli%es! (owards the end of the essay# Lamb brings up
the subject of children and how they also contribute to the Married People's attitudes! $e brings out
all the negative aspects of children and emphasi"es them by listing them continuously with dashes as
separation! $e also bring in a simile from "the e&cellent office in +the, Prayer1boo%""Li%e as arrows in
the hand of the giant# even so are the young children" and uses it in his favor! $e ta%es this idea of
arrows and e&tends it into a metaphor to support his argument! Li%e "double1headed" arrows with
"two for%s# to be sure to hit with one or the other"# how one acts with children will always be wrong2
"with one or other of these for%s the arrow is sure to hit you!" 3hether you act stoic to a child's
attention or shower them with affection# "some prete&t or other is sure to be found for sending them
out of the room!" (hrough this comparison of double1headed arrows and children# Lamb effectively
conveys his opinions of Married People and their attitudes that are shown in everything# including the
way they handle their children!
$e views married people in this way# but he doesn4t see% to totally denigrate them! 5ure# it may seem
li%e those who are married are flaunting their love to others# Lamb ma%es it sound li%e married people
intentionally target singles and taunt them for not having a significant other li%e themselves! Love is a
very strong feeling# and it is impossible to suppress! $e merely loo%s at the negative aspects of
marriage from the perspective of an outsider but also points out a vital aspect )Art lies in
concealment6! Any and 7verything beautiful is not to be e&hibited# for its charm is lost once it is
flaunted! 5haring rather than strutting in open boast# ma%es it acceptable and enjoyable to all around!
.verall# "A Bachelor's Complaint of the Behavior of Married People" is effectively portrayed through
Lamb's arguments and claims! $is complaints are easy to understand# than%s to the e&amples that
he gives! $e ma%es many good points about Married People# and most li%ely is able to persuade
many readers of his views! Lamb's points are overall strong and assertive! (he connection he ma%es
with his readers is also very effective# and his argument will continue to affect people of today# as
marriage is a large part of society.