Would you be able to tell if a couple is in an arranged marriage by looking at them? In the past, arranged marriage was a common occurrence in countries and regions around the world. Although arranged marriage has declined in modern times, people still marry this way in many places. In those places, arranged marriage has evolved and flourished in some regions, while it has remained stagnant in others. Additionally, different countries have different customs and beliefs that explain the tradition of arranged marriage and why it still occurs today. Numerous countries have roots dating back hundreds of years, as evidenced in classical writings. The arranged marriage in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" can be compared to the modern arranged marriage in the regions of India, Japan and Pakistan. Perhaps the best example of arranged marriage is contemporary India adhering to their longstanding custom of arranged marriage. For hundreds of years, marriages have been arranged, but the modern perception of arranged marriages in India is melancholic. However, when asked about their arranged marriage, the responses of an Indian man and woman were contrary. In an interview, the woman described their courtship: "It was like being set on a blind date, but we both knew it would end in marriage between us." Her husband explained their first few months together by saying, "Like all new things, being married to her took some getting used to, but we adjusted and figured it out." When asked how their marriage is going today, the woman replied, "We're pretty good at this stuff now that we've been together for 20 years." During the interview between husband and wife it was obvious that they loved each other even though they were willing to get married. Their story shows that…half of the paper…are present in today's weddings. In India, Japan and Pakistan have similarities with the past, for example the couple has no contribution to the marriage and the two parties of the marriage are unequal. However, some arranged marriages are successful and loving and contradict the common belief that arranged marriages are corrupt and have a negative impact on everyone involved. Finally, after hundreds of years, arranged marriage remains present in the modern world and will exist in the future thanks to cultures and customs that continue the tradition. Works Cited “Ever-Evolving Institution of Marriage.” Japan Times RSS. np, Web. 11 April 2014. Shah, Akhil. Personal interview. April 15, 2014. Shah, Preeti. Personal interview. 15 April 2014.Shakespeare, William. “The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”. Prentice Hall Literature. Ed.Unknown. Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. 800-805. Press.