For most of human history, coupling up was not merely a norm; it was a necessity. Before reliable contraception, women could not control their fertility, and most were far too poor to raise children alone. Hence the centuries-old convention that, whereas a tragic play or saga ends in death, a happy one ends in marriage.
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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The great relationship recession”
From the November 8th 2025 edition
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