Lara and Warren are a couple who have been married for almost twenty years now. They have no children. For most of their marriage, they have been a happy, healthy couple; recently, however, their relationship has been strained. A few weeks ago, Warren opened a new business that requires him to work days and nights for most days of the week. As a result, he often comes home long after Lara has already fallen asleep. When they do have a chance to see each other, Warren often seems sour, and they argue frequently and sometimes bitterly. Warren has never physically abused Lara, but he has made negative remarks to her about her competence, appearance, and sexual performance. These actions have made Lara question whether Warren truly loves her.
Since Warren opened his business, Lara has started to have romantic feelings for a new intern named Michael. Michael is a young, attractive, respectful man who always compliments her on her appearance and on the scent she wears. They have had conversations together at lunch, and Lara has been delighted to find that Michael has much more in common with her than anyone she has ever known, including Warren. As a result, she has fallen in love with him.
One day, much to Lara’s delight, Michael surprises her at her desk with flowers and asks her to accompany him on a date to dinner and a movie. They go on a night when Warren is working late, and the date passes very happily for both. Afterwards, as Michael is dropping Lara off at her home, he gives her a long, passionate kiss and caresses her. Then they decide to go to Michael’s house, where they have an affair.
Lara returns later that night before Warren arrives home none the wiser. Soon, these meetings between Lara and Michael become regular, almost daily, occasions. On the night of one such meeting, Warren tells Lara he will be out late, and so she arranges to meet Michael at her home. But as they make love in Lara’s bed, Warren arrives home at an unexpectedly early hour. He finds both of them in the bedroom together, chases Michael out of the house, and tells Lara that he will be filing for divorce.
Based on these facts, how would you divide the culpability for Lara’s affair between Lara and Warren? Optionally, what made you choose that division?
