What's Missing When Husbands Talk with Wives?

A Shakespearean Couple Talks about the World

There is a conversation between a husband and wife in Act 5, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice which honors the whole world and themselves simultaneously.

Lorenzo and Jessica, a young man and woman, have eloped and been married, and as they sit outside in the evening in Belmont, near Venice, they talk. Their conversation has a relation of opposites—largeness and intimacy, grandeur and playfulness—that readers of Shakespeare have loved for over 300 years; and in their talk is some of the most beautiful poetry. As they begin, Lorenzo and Jessica don't just speak about "us", they speak about the world—the moon, night and famous lovers in history:

Lorenzo. The moon shines bright: in such a night as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees
And they did make no noise, in such a night
Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls,
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Cressid lay that night.

Jessica. In such a night
Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew.
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismay'd away.

Lorenzo. In such a night
Stood Dido with a willow in her hand
Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.

Jessica. In such a night
Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs
That did renew old Aeson.

Then the conversation changes, and in a playful way, using the same rhythm in which they talked about the wide world, they speak about themselves. Jessica is the daughter of Shylock, and she has stolen away from his home to marry Lorenzo. You feel Lorenzo is trying to have his young wife feel at ease, as he banters with her, seeming to deny their love, but really affirming it:

Lorenzo. In such a night
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,
As far as Belmont.

Jessica. In such a night
Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne'er a true one.

A little later, Lorenzo, looking up at the night sky and the stars, wants Jessica to see the beauty of the world:

Lorenzo. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica: look how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold:
There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins...

That grandeur, warmth, intimacy and good cheer is what Aesthetic Realism makes possible for husbands and wives every time they talk. I feel so grateful to know this personally, and I want husbands everywhere to know Aesthetic Realism because it brings the sanity, romance and self-respect to them that men want and deserve to have.

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