What does Marriage represent?

Marriage symbolized control and subservience in Jacob’s early understanding. He knew he would have a wife, but he sought out a wife in order to provide material comforts and conveniences in his own life rather than because he wanted an equal partner. When he meets Rachel, their diverging expectations for what marriage meant led to conflict and tension. She was unwilling to be a subservient wife and was never able to let go of her own dreams, contributing to her feelings of resentment.