Biertan, Transylvania
Half of all marriages today sadly end in divorce. Why were divorce rates so low a century ago and before? There are several reasons, to be sure, but one may eclipse all others: Couples were pretty much forced to work it out.
A fascinating historical example is the city of Biertan, Transylvania. Today it's one of the last holdouts in the world to forgo modern conveniences, including cars, and continues to live as if it were the middle ages. One feature, however, has been retired to museum status: a detention room inside the church grounds which was for married couples who faced "irreconcilable differences." Couples came voluntarily to "prison" and lived in very tight quarters, facing each other (and only each other) 24-7, for 6 weeks. The result was restoration of more than 99% of all the marriages.
Plainly, most divorce can be averted. We are not so different a species today that this couldn't be achieved if couples were willing. Today's society enables divorce as a snap option. What if people decided again that marriage was inviolable? If you are facing a difficult marriage, (and I fully acknowledge marriage is work, and there are arduous rows for some to hoe), what would happen if you decided there is no such thing as "irreconcilable differences" and constrained yourself to one option--forcing yourself to work it out?
Read more about Biertan and marriage prison in this interesting BBC travel article:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170707-a-medieval-remedy-for-divorce