Forget+Prince+Charming

Part B.
===1. The thesis of the essay states that the idealized "Prince Charming" from story books would not make an ideal mate in reality; long-term relationships depend, instead, on compromise, integrity, respect, and humour.===

===2. This example illustrates the author's idea that compromise in marriage is not always 50/50. Making a salad takes longer than making the salad dressing. However, both partners being involved in the making of the meal, i.e. collaborating on tasks together, is what is important in a relationship.===

===3. Although punctuality may not seem like a "dealbreaker", I can see the author's point. Being on time, being dependable, and being responsible are certainly important, and these traits show respect to others. One can be fired from a job or suspended from school for chronic lateness, so why should we accept this flaw in a relationship? Imagine making a promise to "pick up the kids" at 5 p.m. from a sports practice... and forgetting, or showing up at 6 p.m. instead? That would definitely be a huge problem for me if my partner couldn't be depended upon for basic time-keeping. Therefore, punctuality can show respect, or a lack thereof.===

===4. I believe that all humans are ideally looking for a perfect "love match", but at the same time we struggle with the reality that the chances of finding somebody who is 100% perfect for each one of us is very unlikely. We grow up watching Disney movies and reading fairy tales in which the beautiful princess is rescued by a handsome prince (in "Sleeping Beauty", the prince's name is literally Prince Charming). So it's natural to assume that fate will "send" us our perfect partner one day, and only as we get older do we realize that some compromises are probably necessary. Another irony in modern romance is that arranged marriages (when two partners are matched up by their families based on similar backgrounds, culture/religion, and future prospects) are actually more successful in the long run than "love matches". Despite this, I believe that most modern men and women still want some degree of control over their love lives, and will only make concessions in the first place if they feel that they truly love the person anyway.===

===5. In this essay, the author attempts to debunk the myth of "Prince Charming" and the idea that finding the perfect match will equal a problem-free relationship. She, instead, emphasises the idea that both partners must compromise in order for a long-term relationship to work. Everybody has their little foibles and weird habits, so partners must make concessions to "one another's peculiarities" (P5). Overall, she presents a realistic view of long-term partnership, once the initial "honeymoon period" of falling in love has faded away. What remains are two people who have to figure out how to live with each other.===