Infidelity and Relationships: Analyzing 'Think' by Aretha Franklin

This essay explores the themes of infidelity and relationships through an analysis of Aretha Franklin's song "Think." The song, released in 1968, portrays a woman confronting her partner about his infidelity and questioning his consideration for her feelings. It challenges traditional patriarchal views of women as docile and examines the normalization of men's infidelity, highlighting the emotional damage it causes. The essay argues that the song serves as a call for women to stand up against injustice and for men to consider the consequences of their actions, ultimately advocating for a shift towards more equitable and considerate relationships. Desklib provides a platform to access similar essays and solved assignments for students.

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Do We Think About “Think” As We Should?
The song Think by Aretha Franklin from the album Aretha Now was released in
1968, and was an instant hit among the people at that time. It describes the feelings of a
woman where she tells her love interest to think of how his flirting with other women would
affect her. This song embodies a bold and free spirited woman who wants her love interest
to understand the consequences of his actions, and she also warns him of the repercussions of
his faulty actions. This song poses a very sensitive question – Why do people cheat in
relationships? And when they do so, do they consider the effects of their actions? Why are
most of them insensitive to the damage caused by the enormity of their actions? Even though
this song was written fifty years ago, it holds ground even today.
WHAT DOES “THINK” SIGNIFY?
Women are supposed to be docile, and resign to their fates without putting up fights.
However, Aretha Franklin destroys this notion, and composes this song as a warning to men
who cheat on her, saying “You better think about what you're trying to do to me” (Franklin).
This song came as a welcome break to all women who were oppressed in patriarchy (Janaro
and Altshuler 446). Ideally, in this song, she means that she would treat the other person right
if she is treated right. Even as she expresses the pain and anguish upon being cheated by her
partner, she brings up the core of the relationship “you need me and I need you (don't you

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know). Without each other there ain't nothing we can do” (Franklin), and offers to set things
right.
The entire concept of “men will be men”, and that “men will make mistakes” is so
deeply rooted in the minds of many people, that most men think that they can get away with
anything, and unfortunately some actually do. It is just that no one stops to shake them to
their senses, and tells them the trails of disappointments, emotional wreckage, and
heartbreaks they have left behind. The fact that it is considered normal for men to “sow their
wild oats” and women to “wait, for true love waits” does not help, as a man has no idea what
he is doing to a woman by cheating her in it. This songs slams the patriarchy on its face,
telling that the woman knows what he is doing, and asks the man to think before he further
proceeds (Sultana 7).
CONCLUSION
Women have been suppressed for ages (Janaro and Altshuler 445), and have been left to
brood and introspect into their relationships, instead of expressing it out. This song breaks all
those barriers, and expresses the raw emotions and feeling of every wronged woman in a
balanced and composed manner. However, there is still a long way to go, as the ground
reality is far from improved. Men cheating on relationships are higher than ever (Kincaid,
Jones and Cuellar 108). This has to change, and it can occur only if every woman stands up to
injustice. That is when the true purpose of this song would be realized.

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Works Cited
Franklin, Aretha. "Think". Aretha Now. 1968.
Janaro, Richard Paul and Thelma C Altshuler. "Freedom." Janaro, Richard Paul and Thelma
C Altshuler. The Art of Being Human. London: Pearson Education, 2008. 428-452.
Kincaid, C, et al. "Psychological Control Associated with Youth Adjustment and Risky
Behavior in African American Single Mother Families." Journal of Child and Family
Studies (2011): 102-110.
Sultana, A. "Patriarchy and Women’s Subordination: A Theoretical Analysis." The Arts
Faculty Journal (2011): 1-18.