Allegory

Allegory Allegory “Marrying Absurd” is an article written by Joan Didion in 1967, for a magazine called the Saturday Evening Post. Didion portrays exactly how ludicrous the marriage “industry” has become in Las Vegas. The reader is lead to see the cheapness of the Las Vegas industry. Las Vegas has managed to make a mockery of the sanctity of marriage. This city has managed to take something that should be sacred and turn it into nothing more than a monetary convenience. Didion opens with this statement: “To be married in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, a bride must swear that she is eighteen or has parental permission and a bridegroom that he is twenty-one or has parental permission.” The author expresses concern about the lack of requirements necessary to be married. It is similar to going to a fast food restaurant’s drive-thru, except, instead of leaving with a burger and fries, you’re leaving with a new spouse. There is no blood testing needed or waiting period. In actuality it takes more proof and time to become a new member at a movie store. Didion sarcastically goes on to say that “Someone must one, vegas, married, las, strip, didion, question, chapels, author, put, chapel, word, should, people, free, dollars, ceremony, whole, weddings, wedding, two, sense, same, sacred, picture, peace, new, meaning, marriage, make, justice, five, day, couples, burger