(no subject)

[scarletmorning]

I was just reading a passage about Madam Duval not wearing her widow´s garments (and the note about the custom) when a question popped up.

Are people in FE even allowed to remarry?

I'm not too sure about FE7 since I haven't played it in forever, but I think the king of Bern did remarry. If so, then it is probably possible in Elibe (or at least it is possible for kings/men). However, if we look at Magvel?

Ismaire - husband is definitely dead and she rules alone. It is said that he died when Joshua was young so it was quite some time ago. Why has she not remarried? Or rather, did the people urged her to remarry and she refused? Or could she not remarry?

Fado - Eirika always talks about meeting her father and brother again in the 1. - 9. Chapter. She never mentions a mother so the conclusion that she doesn't have one anymore makes sense. It is not clear when her mother has died, though I personally take it -- since she never comes up anywhere (and Eirika and L'arachel talk about their respective parents in their B support) -- that Lina died early so that the twins don't really remember her. Which would also mean that she died at least 10 years and more ago. Why has Fado not remarried? Did he not want to or was he not able to?

Vigarde - The hardest to pinpoint; I find it obvious that Minna is dead. Otherwise Lyon would've had someone to go to and it definitely would have come up when it came to Viggy´s zombieness. Because she would've noticed that one. So. Viggy is single as well. Though you could argue that he didn't have the nerves and/or interest in remarrying since he was such a workaholic. On the other hand, his health was not the best and Lyon was not exactly cut out to be a great emperor and maybe Viggy could've had another son. But, nothing happened.

(Aileen is still alive and kicking so we can ignore Frelia. Which makes me sad D8 Moar Frelia.)

I can't remember if there was anything in PoR or RD that could give us any clues about widow customs so that one remains a bit "?".

Hm... Thoughts?

Comments

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly certain that in FE7, Desmond didn't remarry--he had a mistress. However, according to my headcanon, Serra and Oswin's paired ending makes her his second wife, making Bors Oswin's son from his first marriage (with his first wife dying in childbirth/some sort of illness) and Wendy the child of Serra and Oswin. So.

Sorry, I'm kind of braindead about Magvel at the moment. XDD

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

I could only remember something about Zephiel and Guiniver not being full siblings so no surprise that I was wrong here XD
I mean, it could also be the custom that it was tolerated in some cases and in others not. Who knows...

XD

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

Well, rules/opinions/social norms about remarriage--and relations (whether sexual or not) outside of marriage--seem to be rather lax in FE as a whole. There are some that are obviously going to make people go o__O, but as a whole? It seems pretty relaxed. Unless there are cultures where remarriage/relations out of wedlock seem to be really frowned upon (Jehanna's the first one that comes to mind, actually).

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

Well, at least it's obviously no problem as a monk or sister to marry. I found in Magvel at least two instances where it was possible.

Why Jehanna?

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, members of the clergy is where, I feel, that relaxed approach to relationships is most obvious.

With Jehanna, there's the case of Ismaire not remarrying (Magvel's de facto "Woman King" lol) and the fact that I see Jehanna as having a distinct Middle Eastern influence--the culture forbids women from remarrying.

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

But there's also evidence that neither Fado nor Viggy remarried. Of course, I'm not denying that Jehanna cannot still forbid women from remarrying (though that could be very unfortunate in the case of a queen who hasn't have children yet and her husband dies. They can only hope that any uncles/nephews/nieces/etc. are there to take over)

[raphiael]

I was actually wondering about divorce, myself.
In FE10, at least, there's something to be said for Almedha's separation from Ashnard. Also, there's no stigma around Isadora if she breaks of her engagement with Harken, right?

But it is unusual that Ismaire, for example, didn't remarry and try to beget more heirs, as well. I think it might be a cultural thing - so while Ismaire might not remarry, and I don't see Eleanora taking another husband, it's possible that someone from, IDK, Renais or Ostia would.

Also important to note - historically, there are different standards for widows and widowers. Much more common for a widow to remain single for the rest of her life, whereas a widower would often take a second wife, whether or not he had children.

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

I always thought she just left him, or he got rid of her. Nothing "official", so to speak, so technically they are still married. And Isadora... do we know what the people would think of her? And an engagement is not on the same level as a marriage. If something objectionable turns up, it would surely no probelm to break the engagement. (It happened in rl as well)

Oh, I know that there were different rules for widows and widowers. It's just that for me it's obvious that Fado and Viggy also didn't remarry and if two out of two known widowers also don't remarry I have to question myself if they are the exceptions or the rule.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

Hm... Thoughts?

Pardon me for dropping in.

I tend to interpret that as characteristic laziness on the part of the FE scriptwriters, which means we can go with it in any direction we want in fanfic. FE overall has a very, very, very low rate of remarriage among the primary cast, but at the same time seems to take a pretty lax attitude toward "lovers" and marriage in the first place.

BUT-- earlier (1-5) games tended to show more complicated marital dynamics, with kings taking second wives, and female nobles getting involved with more than one man. The later games get really sketchy on details in many departments, and I tend to interpret that as part of the general laziness of the writing team after Kaga left Intelligent Systems. (Along with, "What were the names of the other Five Heroes of Magvel?" and other burning questions.)

So I think the main reason Ismaire, Vigarde, and Fado didn't remarry was so the writers didn't have to worry about spouses and half-siblings. :/

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

No worries about dropping in! Commenters are always welcome~

Hm, yeah, I thought about laziness as well. And, well, if they even had the space/ need to fill that in.

OTOH, wrt the twins I think the loneliness and the the fact that "They should be the last of their family" kinda rules out any other relatives. At least this is the message that I got from the script. And I can see something similar with Vigarde; I think Lyon needed to be alone and feel helpless for the story to really work. I don't think everything would've worked out like it has if he still had some half-brother he could go to (and in an extreme case maybe even give the crown to!). I just think that there are good reason to not give Fado and Viggy new wives. Well, that and they are so minor characters ;A;

And I have to admit the thought of them not being allowed to remarry does intrigue me. Though I would totally be for remarrying in an AU. I find the (seemingly) general belief that nobody ever remarries in ffs very strange (and not exactly fair).

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

And the the fact that "They should be the last of their family" kinda rules out any other relatives

That too, but FE has played kind of loose with that. I mean, Marth and Elice are supposedly the last of their dynasty, but they turn out to have an family of cousins ruling the next nation over.

Besides, none of the FE8 mothers even got NAMES, which is pretty... sad.

I find the (seemingly) general belief that nobody ever remarries in ffs very strange (and not exactly fair).

I think it has a lot to do with ideas of "happily ever after," but I agree it's odd and a little depressing at times.

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

Maybe they took it seriously this time? XD Though, well, Magvel is not that big... Personally, I can totally see a Grado prince turn up somewhere, but maybe that's just me XD

That is very sad. But I am clearly biased because I want more living parents in game. It's not fair that they die all the time. More "old" people!

Hm, I know. I want more fics where people can find a second or third or even fourth love. Of course, the "happily ever after" has nice sides as well (if you look for this type of fluff). It would probably not "so bad" if there were more variety in general.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

I want more fics where people can find a second or third or even fourth love.

I completely agree.