Arranged marriages as literary topic.

[TxRad]

What, what? Curious minds want to know!

You're welcome.

The story is set in a small Texas town and the local motel is owned by an Indian family. Mother, father, daughter, grandmother and grandfather. I needed a reason for the mother and daughter to do certain things and to act certain ways.

When I get back to the story (I'm wrapped up in a novel and three stories for the Valentines Day contest) I might get back with you for a little more detailed information and specific questions on a culture I have only a passing knowledge of .

 

[damppanties]

The story is set in a small Texas town and the local motel is owned by an Indian family. Mother, father, daughter, grandmother and grandfather. I needed a reason for the mother and daughter to do certain things and to act certain ways.

When I get back to the story (I'm wrapped up in a novel and three stories for the Valentines Day contest) I might get back with you for a little more detailed information and specific questions on a culture I have only a passing knowledge of .

Sure. Will be glad to help.

 

[carlieplum]

Explore it within a cultural context

I think this could be very interesting.

Two kinds of arranged marriage:

1. They marry without ever meeting before the wedding.

2. The meeting is arranged. There are a handful of highly chaperoned dates before the marriage.

Whichever way you went with that, you would then have to decide:

1. Is one of the pair sexually experienced, while the other isn't?

2. Both are virgins on the wedding night.


I think getting to know something about cultures that do this would be more interesting than some forced scenario like snowfall or whatever.

Good luck.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

What kind of scenarios do you think most intriguing and appealing in this genre?

I don't know if "Arranged Marriage" has much meaning as a story type or category, because it doesn't really tell you anything about the kind of sex or relationship that occurs once these people are brought together. Non-consent, reluctance, first-time, loving sex, BDSM, romance, even incest, all might happen under the circumstances of an Arranged Marriage, so just what does "Arranged Marriage" mean?

 

[sunandshadow]

I don't know if "Arranged Marriage" has much meaning as a story type or category, because it doesn't really tell you anything about the kind of sex or relationship that occurs once these people are brought together. Non-consent, reluctance, first-time, loving sex, BDSM, romance, even incest, all might happen under the circumstances of an Arranged Marriage, so just what does "Arranged Marriage" mean?

Well, arranged marriage is more of a trope than a category, but I've read a bunch of arranged marriage stories and they usually have a commitment theme and an intent to conceive an heir theme. First time for the bride is also really common, though I'm personally a bit bored of that. The other things you mention, excluding incest, are split pretty neatly into two categories: romantic stories with loving sex vs. BDSM stories with reluctance and non-con. So perhaps it would work for you to think of arranged marriages stories as two categories with only a small amount of overlap rather than one category which is a big mishmash.

 

[Handley_Page]

There's an interesting row between Mother & Daughter in 'The Magic Flute'.

 

[Noor]

I have known several people in arranged marriages, I have even helped write some marriage advertisements.

If you are brought up in a society, community or subculture where that is the normal, there is nothing particularly illicit about it.

I would think a story of sexual discover without a leader or follower. Possibly work thought all the positions in the Karma Sutra or a Japanese pillowbook?

 

[sunandshadow]

I wish I could even find a matchmaker where I live (Pittsburgh PA). There are some but they are religion specific, and I'm an atheist who prefers my partner to also be an atheist.

As someone who is not from a culture where arranged marriages are traditional (4th+ generation American of mixed European descent), to me the whole concept of matchmaking seems like a helpful safety net I wish I had, seeing as I've failed miserably to find a man to marry on my own.

 

[Noor]

I wish I could even find a matchmaker where I live (Pittsburgh PA). There are some but they are religion specific, and I'm an atheist who prefers my partner to also be an atheist.

As someone who is not from a culture where arranged marriages are traditional (4th+ generation American of mixed European descent), to me the whole concept of matchmaking seems like a helpful safety net I wish I had, seeing as I've failed miserably to find a man to marry on my own.

if you want help writing a profile for plentyoffish or something, and helping choosing the good responses, I am very good at that. just pm me.

 

[sunandshadow]

if you want help writing a profile for plentyoffish or something, and helping choosing the good responses, I am very good at that. just pm me.

I've tried a couple of dating/matchmaking websites. The problem is I have a clear idea of the kind of man I'm looking for, and I haven't had any responses from someone like that, much less someone who matches my desires and also lives nearby. I don't think it's a problem that I've written bad profiles, it's just that I'm picky and want someone out of my league and whose look doesn't match what it's common for men to look like in my area. I had the idea that with a live matchmaker I could at least describe what I want and get an immediate no if there's no one like that in their pool.

 

[Noor]

I've tried a couple of dating/matchmaking websites. The problem is I have a clear idea of the kind of man I'm looking for, and I haven't had any responses from someone like that, much less someone who matches my desires and also lives nearby. I don't think it's a problem that I've written bad profiles, it's just that I'm picky and want someone out of my league and whose look doesn't match what it's common for men to look like in my area. I had the idea that with a live matchmaker I could at least describe what I want and get an immediate no if there's no one like that in their pool.

Its very hard to write a profile that adequately describes yourself. You maybe very clear with you want but obviously your profile is not attracting men who meet that.

What's this league stuff about? Looks are very transient, illness, accidents, age, and heredity are all things beyond a person's control. Its better to look for qualities rather than the superficial.

Why must you limit yourself to those who live nearby? i would go with the best possible and they can move to you ;-)

 

[ravi64]

This story may just get submitted, after all, thanks to the encouragement I’ve gotten here as well as a couple of friends who would like to see it put up. I’ll have to work a bit more on the ending first. And I have a story—nothing that will fit in with this discussion—that needs to be submitted first.

The subject of arranged matrimony is a serious one and is followed by many communities , Polyandry and Polygamy is practiced by these people

 

[Angellica1612]

I wrote a historical novel in which the main characters are in an arranged marriage. Their fathers are recent business partners. The woman was married off at 14 to a much older man, who turned out to be a violent drunk. When he dies, she moves back home, and two years later, her father wants her out. The male character's father is angry about the woman he's been bedding and forbids him to marry her. So neither wants the marriage. Of course, this is a romance, so you can guess what happens. But writing it made me really think about what it would be like to be in that situation, and to keep it in mind as I wrote the story. I read up on it a bit, and what I learned helped shape my characters and the story. It's great to get input from other writers like this, and there's plenty of info available online. Best of luck with it!