Adultery
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | '''Adultery''' is voluntary [[intercourse|sexual intercourse]] between a man and a married woman who is not his spouse. Some legal jurisdictions have defined it as a "crime against marriage", opposed to [[infidelity]]. Adultery is typically performed by [[adult]]s. | + | '''Adultery''' is voluntary [[intercourse|sexual intercourse]] between a man and a married woman who is not his spouse. Some legal jurisdictions have defined it as a "crime against marriage", opposed to [[infidelity]]. Adultery is typically performed by [[adult]]s. It has been a common [[Adultery in literature|theme in literature]]. |
| == Adultery in literature == | == Adultery in literature == | ||
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Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a man and a married woman who is not his spouse. Some legal jurisdictions have defined it as a "crime against marriage", opposed to infidelity. Adultery is typically performed by adults. It has been a common theme in literature.
Adultery in literature
The theme of adultery features in a wide range of literature through the ages. This is hardly surprising, as the fact of adultery has been a part of the human existence for as long as there has been marriage. As a theme it automatically brings its own conflict, between the people concerned and between sexual desires and a sense of loyalty; it brings intense emotions into the foreground, and has consequences for all concerned.
As marriage and family are often regarded as basis of society a story of adultery often shows the conflict between social pressure and individual struggle for happiness.
In the Bible, incidents of adultery are present almost from the start. The story of Abraham contains several incidents and serve as warnings or stories of sin and forgiveness. Abraham attempts to continue his blood line through his wife's maidservant, with consequences that continue through history. Jacob's family life is complicated with similar incidents.
Shakespeare wrote three plays in which the perception of adultery plays a significant part. In both Othello and The Winter's Tale it is the (false) belief by the central character that his wife is unfaithful that brings about his downfall. In "The Merry Wives of Windsor," an adulterous plot by Falstaff prompts elaborate and repeated revenge by the wronged wives; the comedy of the play hides a deeper anxiety about the infidelity of women.
In The Country Wife by William Wycherley, the morals of English Restoration society are satirised. The object of the rake hero is to seduce as many married ladies as possible, while blinding their husbands to what is going on by pretending to be impotent. The scheme is very successful, and it is assumed that he goes on adding more notches to his belt after the final curtain.
