The superstition of divorce

G. K. Chesterton's "The Superstition of Divorce" is a collection of essays criticizing the social and moral consequences of making divorce easier. Chesterton argues that the widespread adoption of divorce is not a sign of freedom or progress, but rather a dangerous 'superstition' that signifies the abandonment of the very act of choice as a path to happiness. The author contends that marriage is a structure that requires constant will and a creative act, where individuals build a life through the determination of self-limitation. He criticizes the ease of divorce for leading individuals to perpetually seek new situations instead of truly resolving an existing one, resulting in the decay of social order and individual morality. Ultimately, Chesterton stresses the vital importance of choice and the power of will in both art and ethics, suggesting that the modern world is on a deadly path by forsaking this fundamental value.