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I curious about the possibilities or social consequences of a married couple divorcing, according to certain races and cultures. In some real-life societies of the past a divorce was outlawed and a couple was married, at least legally, for life. Are there any specific mentions of outlawing divorce in particular Elder Scrolls societies?

What got me thinking about this was a roleplay I have for two Imperials who were turned vampires and grew apart. They physically separated but, perhaps in the eyes of law or their societal upbringing, one or both don't embrace the concept of divorce and they just have to live with this marriage, at least contractually, forever.

Pretty sure divorce isn't socially accepted in Tamriel, at least in the eyes of the faithful. Followers of Mara believe that marriage is an eternal union between two souls, so breaking that union is probably sacrilege.

Of course, TES lore seems to lean towards a more modern concept of marriage than what you might expect in a fantasy setting, as can be seen with the Imperial Cult's stance on same-sex unions. There seem to be an awful lot of unhappy couples though, and even when this guy runs off his wife waits until his death before she considers the marriage to be ended.

weel I don't know if vampires are shunned by Mara or not. maybe she believes anyone and anything can be married forever... but my guess is that vampires are unholy things in the eyes are of divines and so anything is null and void till the curses are lifted. I think at least one of them must revert to humanism if the matrimony is to be legit again

Good point. The 'mortal union' probably ended in the eyes of the gods the moment one of them became undead.

all_freed wrote:weel I don't know if vampires are shunned by Mara or not. maybe she believes anyone and anything can be married forever... but my guess is that vampires are unholy things in the eyes are of divines and so anything is null and void till the curses are lifted. I think at least one of them must revert to humanism if the matrimony is to be legit again

Arkay is the "vampires are abominations" Divine. The others have varying degrees of antipathy or empathy towards them.

Mara loves everyone. Everyone. That's her thing. She embodies perfect, unconditional love. It's why she's a universal concept and one of the most important deities in most religions, occupying a top spot in the pantheon alongside the Time God and/or Space God.

oh yea that's the other thing i was thinking about. it might be a topic that even the divines argue and not agreed upon among themselves.

i don't know what janis hassildolf and his wife thought about their relationship. it sounded that they were quite close and i think at least janis thought they were still a husband and a wife. but i guess we don't know if they ever got a official marriage in the divine when they were mortal, and if they did if the divines still consider it legit. but if there's anyone that has enough compassion for couples of any type/status then it's mara.