Both Katherine and Dot "had married for love. A daft thing to do really". Why is marrying for love seen as folly in the Tudor Court?
Created: 08/22/13
Replies: 13
Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3442
Join Date: 04/11/12
Posts: 102
This is a very easy question and oh so obvious. The king has his choice of whoever he wants to marry. The poor woman doesn't even have a say in the matter. Then he can marry off his children to whoever he wants. Even those around him have to have his permission to marry. Love is not even a consideration.
Join Date: 06/19/13
Posts: 19
I actually think the problem is more that 1) loves make you vulnerable and makes it harder to sacrifice others to save (or advance) yourself and 2) that you you might love someone who does not feel the same way and who would betray you. Elizabeth learned the first lesson and Katherine the latter.
Join Date: 09/02/13
Posts: 22
Join Date: 01/12/12
Posts: 298
Join Date: 09/01/11
Posts: 166
Join Date: 01/16/12
Posts: 136
Join Date: 09/16/11
Posts: 165
Join Date: 03/27/13
Posts: 23
I agree with Esther, as well. It seems as if every move that was made had to be well thought out and planned. Marriage was probably one of the most important steps and it could take you higher or drag you down in placement. Love seemed an option that few could afford.
Join Date: 08/23/11
Posts: 12
It was seen as a folly not only in the Tudor court but throughout the whole society. It was an economic decision for the family.( Indeed, this holds true in many cultures today.) The stakes were that much larger the further you got up the social ladder, hence the importance in the Tudor Court
Join Date: 04/23/12
Posts: 182
Join Date: 05/31/11
Posts: 166
Marriage was a tool. A tool for manipulation, for producing heirs, for gain of power or lands and titles, but not normally for love. Only occasionally were the marriages mutually satisfying for the participants. The woman was a pawn in the game. The Tudor Court played this game to its ultimate extremes.
Join Date: 04/11/12
Posts: 102
Join Date: 09/14/11
Posts: 30
Love in essence was folly since love could blind one to other people's true feelings, desires and blind one to where they really stood in terms of social position of actually marrying for love. Katherine's love for Thomas blinded her to his selfish ambition that was really behind their secret marriage and to what was really going on between him and Elizabeth. Marrying for love was folly for Dot because the man she really loved was above her station, without the Queen's approval she could never have been with William Savage.
Reply
Please login to post a response.