"Every marriage tends to consist of an aristocrat and a peasant. Of a teacher and a learner"

John Updike's quote suggests that in every marriage, there is an imbalance of power between the two partners. One partner is typically the "aristocrat," or the one in control, while the other is the "peasant," or the one who is finding out and being taught. This could be in regards to knowledge, experience, and even financial power. The aristocrat is the one who is mentor and assisting the peasant, while the peasant is the one who is discovering and being assisted. This quote indicates that in a marriage, one partner is typically the leader and the other is the fan. It likewise suggests that the relationship is not always equal, which one partner may have more power than the other. This quote is a pointer that in a marital relationship, both partners should make every effort to be equal and to learn from each other.