RELATIONSHIP THESAURUS

SPOUSES IN A FORCED MARRIAGE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Relationships are part of the very fabric of your character’s life. How well or poorly they get along with others oftentimes comes down to personality, so carefully consider the positive traits and negative traits of your story’s cast. Another factor that can pull characters together or create friction is motivation, so keep each individual’s goal—both at the scene and story level—in mind as you write.
DESCRIPTION:
A forced marriage is a union that one or both parties aren't able to refuse. (By comparison, arranged marriages are different; they require consent from the people involved, and happiness tends to be considered more in the selection process.) Forced marriages may be orchestrated by the parties' families, guardians, or cultural leaders.

It's important to understand that while this practice is condemned in much of the world, it is still accepted in some places and happens illegally in others. Outside pressures and expectations will play a part in how quickly (if at all) a reluctant spouse will become subordinate to their partner, as will other factors, such as personality and access to information that runs counter to the accepted norms. All of this will determine the dynamics in this unorthodox relationship.

RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS:
Below are a wide range of dynamics that may accompany this relationship. Use the ideas that suit your story and work best for your characters to bring about and/or resolve the necessary conflict.

Both parties entering the relationship with the goal of making it work
One partner being happy with the arrangement while the other is not
Both parties facing the union with reluctance
An uncertain partner eventually coming to a place of resignation, satisfaction, or even happiness with the arrangement
The unhappy party being brainwashed or gaslighted by those who arranged the marriage
The union taking the unwilling party far from family members, loved ones, and their support system
The unwilling partner putting on an agreeable face to mask inward fear, anger, or misery
An abusive relationship that disregards the needs or desires of the unwilling party

CHALLENGES THAT COULD THREATEN THE STATUS QUO:
A party responsible for pushing the marriage having a change of heart 
Law enforcement challenging the legality of the arrangement
The couple being unable to conceive children (if this is important to either of them)
The dominant partner taking a second spouse or lover
The unwilling partner developing skills or gaining knowledge that enables them to fight their oppressor
The unwilling partner fleeing the marriage
One party finding (or changing their) religion
The unwilling partner finding a sympathetic ally
The dominant spouse sustaining an injury or illness that makes them vulnerable
A social or cultural revolution that makes forced marriages less accepted 
The couple having to relocate to a location where forced marriages are taboo and individual rights are valued
An unwilling wife becoming pregnant, making it harder for her to escape
The subordinate spouse falling in love with someone else

WOUNDS THAT COULD FACTOR INTO THE RELATIONSHIP:
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POSSIBLE CONFLICT SCENARIOS:
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CONFLICTING DESIRES THAT CAN IMPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP:
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CLASHING PERSONALITY TRAIT COMBINATIONS:
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NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF FRICTION:
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FICTIONAL SCENARIOS THAT COULD TURN THESE CHARACTERS INTO ALLIES:
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WAYS THIS RELATIONSHIP MAY LEAD TO POSITIVE GROWTH:
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THEMES AND SYMBOLS THAT CAN BE EXPLORED THROUGH THIS RELATIONSHIP:
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