Re: An observation about Yinkin from donald_at_dlTOW87UxsjJ_LgOGrCE8mkXCN_AUXdX09NDDnFZJahu_V6i-S2Eu8aCnqixXWvwU4TpP on 2008-11-10 (World of Glorantha)

From: donald_at_dlTOW87UxsjJ_LgOGrCE8mkXCN_AUXdX09NDDnFZJahu_V6i-S2Eu8aCnqixXWvwU4TpP
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:08:37 GMT

In message <gf799a+hluq_at_eGroups.com> "Simon Phipp" writes:
>Adept:
>> Still not quite. Promiscuity and sex without marriage is not frowned
>> upon, but the marrige bond is sacred to the heortlings. No sleeping
>> around when married,
>
>I never bought into this, really.
>
>The Orlanth-Ernalda bond is the major marriage model, but even that
>wasn't unbreakable. Orlanth had his fair share of concubines and
>Ernalda had her fair share of husband protectors/lovers.
>
>Having said that, there may well be cultural taboos that operate beside
>religious ones. But the idea that the Heortling marriages are stricter
>than other ones doesn't ring true to me. Compared to Yelmalian and Dara
>Happan marriages, Heortling ones seem mild to me.

My view is that it is a difference of emphasis. In Dara Happen and Yelmalian cultures adultery is a religious crime. The offender is punished by the church or state as determined by the law. In Heortling society adultery it is a wrong done to the other party in the marriage and should be compensated. However this compensation is only payable if they choose to divorce. Now divorce causes all sorts of problems for the clans involved so there will usually be a lot of pressure to find another way.

That leaves a situation where some people get away with adultery on a regular basis because their partners choose not to make an issue of it. More common will be short term flings where the offending partner begs forgivness when caught and the couple rebuild the marriage.

Certainly the idea that adultery is very rare because of the sacred marriage of Orlanth and Ernalda is untrue. This is humans we're talking about not gods.

-- 
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/