But that's what all high status marriages were...arranged for political/dynastic/power reasons marriages. That's what most upper-class Samurai and many middling class marriages were, and for sure true for up and coming merchant families and some of the upper peasantry.
Love matches were basically saved for the lower peasantry. Or between a man and his concubine. And that's the human norm for much of humanity both in Japan and Europe in the 16th century.
I see InuPapa's marriage to Sesshmom and then his relationship to Inumom reflecting very much the way the human world worked. In fact it reminds me a lot of one of the major Daimyo...maybe Tokugawa Iesu, but I'd have to look it up. Almost all of the Daimyo of InuYasha's time who had official wives weren't particularly in love with those women. Some they didn't even like...or trust, but they might be deeply attached to the concubines they actually spent most of their time with.
Thus, I can't see much difference. Sometimes I am cursed with knowing too much!
:) Yes, I realize this as well - that when we're talking high class, love has nothing to do with marriage. I'd characterize InuPapa & SessMom's relationship the same way - it was an alliance, beneficial for one or more or both. That's not a "marriage" the traditional sense as we think of it today. For me, using "union" or "alliance" instead, I'm trying to emphasize this fact, to cut down on the "OMG!SCANDAL!ADULTERY!!" aspect of it all, whether it be InuPapa or Sesshoumaru who is so unjustly accused. Because let's face it, not every reader is the sharpest tool in the drawer, LOL.
I've played around with the notion that they aren't even married at all, in the sense we have of it. Hence calling each other "mates" instead of "husband" and "wife." I see vast more separation in these matters of the heart between humans and youkai and it's a dynamic I enjoy exploiting in my fic.
The use of "marriage"/"husband"/"wife" doesn't bother me at all, no matter how it's used. Neither do the terms "mate" and "mating". I see them as two sides of the same coin, more or less, and use them in a highly selective way to emphasize differences in classifying relationships for the benefit of readers moreso than my own personal taste.
The word "pups" on the other hand...just, no. Kagome (nor Rin, nor your poor unsuspecting OC, heaven forfend!) is not going to have a litter of puppies. Hanyou =/= youkai =/= domesticated dog. NO THANK YOU.
It's so interesting how I sweat blood to write Sessh and you have trouble with Miroku and I find him so easy to do. Life is funny that way...
Well, I don't know about you, but I find that I relate far, far too much to Sesshoumaru and his hangups than I care to admit sometimes. Miroku is so...free, easygoing, flirty and confident, and he *does* have a witty sense of humor. Comedy is my weakness, and trying to blend it successfully with other character traits...is mostly an ugly experiment in my hands.
That, and I tend to sweat over my characterizations more than is healthy, probably :P
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Love matches were basically saved for the lower peasantry. Or between a man and his concubine. And that's the human norm for much of humanity both in Japan and Europe in the 16th century.
I see InuPapa's marriage to Sesshmom and then his relationship to Inumom reflecting very much the way the human world worked. In fact it reminds me a lot of one of the major Daimyo...maybe Tokugawa Iesu, but I'd have to look it up. Almost all of the Daimyo of InuYasha's time who had official wives weren't particularly in love with those women. Some they didn't even like...or trust, but they might be deeply attached to the concubines they actually spent most of their time with.
Thus, I can't see much difference. Sometimes I am cursed with knowing too much!
:) Yes, I realize this as well - that when we're talking high class, love has nothing to do with marriage. I'd characterize InuPapa & SessMom's relationship the same way - it was an alliance, beneficial for one or more or both. That's not a "marriage" the traditional sense as we think of it today. For me, using "union" or "alliance" instead, I'm trying to emphasize this fact, to cut down on the "OMG!SCANDAL!ADULTERY!!" aspect of it all, whether it be InuPapa or Sesshoumaru who is so unjustly accused. Because let's face it, not every reader is the sharpest tool in the drawer, LOL.
I've played around with the notion that they aren't even married at all, in the sense we have of it. Hence calling each other "mates" instead of "husband" and "wife." I see vast more separation in these matters of the heart between humans and youkai and it's a dynamic I enjoy exploiting in my fic.
The use of "marriage"/"husband"/"wife" doesn't bother me at all, no matter how it's used. Neither do the terms "mate" and "mating". I see them as two sides of the same coin, more or less, and use them in a highly selective way to emphasize differences in classifying relationships for the benefit of readers moreso than my own personal taste.
The word "pups" on the other hand...just, no. Kagome (nor Rin, nor your poor unsuspecting OC, heaven forfend!) is not going to have a litter of puppies. Hanyou =/= youkai =/= domesticated dog. NO THANK YOU.
It's so interesting how I sweat blood to write Sessh and you have trouble with Miroku and I find him so easy to do. Life is funny that way...
Well, I don't know about you, but I find that I relate far, far too much to Sesshoumaru and his hangups than I care to admit sometimes. Miroku is so...free, easygoing, flirty and confident, and he *does* have a witty sense of humor. Comedy is my weakness, and trying to blend it successfully with other character traits...is mostly an ugly experiment in my hands.
That, and I tend to sweat over my characterizations more than is healthy, probably :P