"Marriage, n: the state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress, and two slaves, making in all, two"

Ambrose Bierce’s definition of marriage from his satirical work “The Devil’s Dictionary” uses biting wit to offer a cynical commentary on the institution of marriage as understood in his era. He describes marriage as a “community consisting of a master, a mistress, and two slaves, making in all, two.” On the surface, his choice of words appears paradoxical, but it is precisely this contradiction that underscores his critical perspective.

The label of “master” and “mistress” can be interpreted as referring to the husband and wife, traditional roles steeped in the patriarchal society of Bierce’s time. Yet, by adding “two slaves,” Bierce suggests that in marriage, both partners enforce authority while simultaneously being subject to subjugation, they are both rulers and the ruled. This arrangement blurs the lines of power within the union, hinting that neither truly holds supremacy, for each is a slave to the institution and to one another.

By concluding with “making in all, two,” Bierce condenses these four apparent roles into just two individuals, emphasizing that the distinctions are illusory. The husband and wife each embody both positions; each is master at moments and slave at others, reflecting the complexities, compromises, power struggles, and mutual dependencies inherent in marital relationships. The succinct number “two” strips away romantic ideals and exposes the interdependency and bondage that can develop, sometimes leaving both parties feeling chained rather than liberated by marriage.

Bierce’s biting satire questions both the viability and the fairness of conventional marital roles. He lays bare the contradictions and discontents that may be glossed over in idealizations of married life, pushing the reader to reflect on the societal structures and personal sacrifices embedded in matrimonial bonds. Through irony and paradox, Bierce transforms a social definition into a commentary on human nature and social conventions.