VERONICA vs BETTY

Finally Archie Andrews has popped the question to long time heart throb Veronica while (as Sunday TOI says in an article) ‘Miss Goody Two Shoes’ Betty has been left to cry over her loss as well as that the days of such simple women are passé.

The writer seemed very excited by this development and its social significance. He couldn’t stop raving about how the men today have moved over their inhibitions about marrying the ‘fast’ women and how the vampish women like Veronica have now become ‘marriageable’ rather than being only great company to spend time with.

However in his excitement he seems to have forgotten the long term implications of such a marriage. He says himself that Veronica (and women like her) has dictating, nagging ways which seem to have a certain seductive charm for men in the initial stages ,but he seems to have forgotten that this nagging dictatorship is what is going to convert these ‘trophy wives’ into a trouble which will have no solution.

It doesn’t mean that such strongly assertive, fiercely independent, stylish women cannot make good and understanding wives but at the same time the percentage of women who would be able to prove this image wrong is very less. And this, simply because they don’t need a support system in their lives and thus do not really need to give in to someone else. As a result, if unhappy in a situation they would not probably make that extra effort to try and fit in and would rather prefer to walk out of the situation with a simple nod of the head.
And then there is the extravagance of Veronica. Would Archie be able to provide sufficient for Veronica’s spendthrift ways? It is doubtful because their social status is poles apart. It is possible only if Veronica earns sufficiently enough so that she doesn’t have to depend on her husband for any fulfillment of her wish, which again doesn’t give her any reason to stay in this marriage.(except of course for love). Thus I really doubt archie’s choice .
At the same time I wouldn’t say that women like Betty are perfect choice for marriage because the way Betty fawns over Archie in spite of being treated as a sidekick all the time is despicable and demeaning. She does not seem to have a life of her own and all her likes and dislikes revolve around Archie who doesn’t really care for her. Such women also become a kind of a burden.
What men really need is a mix of Veronica and Betty.