Book 1, Either/Or : Chapter 3, Aesthetic Validation of Marriage - First Love Summary and Analysis

One important feature of love that the author has brought into the conversation is that of "first love." He writes of what a wonder this is. He also takes the trouble to show what happens to people who strive or struggle against marriage. One negative that can emerge, he writes, is that rather than continuing to honor and pay homage to first love, the attitude towards this joy changes. The approach taken turns into something derogatory; the first love is belittled and denigrated as if it was an immature and insufficient, inadequate first effort at love that has been trampled for the sake of a better one.

Kierkegaard puts forth the counter argument that first love, properly handled, does quite well...