MovieChat Forums > Jude (1996) Discussion > Marriage

Marriage

posted 13 years ago by JJDancer18
5 replies | jump to latest

I don't know much about the Victorian period but was it really that common for people to ask if you were married? When they go to find a place to stay, it is mentioned that the woman wanted to know if they were married. Why would she ask that? Also, why didn't they just lie? I know Sue didn't want to hide it because she thought they hadn't done anything wrong, but couldn't they have told people they were? After all, they were both married, just not to each other. Maybe because they weren't wearing rings? Although I don't know if people wore rings then. But, if they did, couldn't they have got fake rings and pretended to be husband and wife? Seems to me they could have made a bit more of an effort to mainstream and fit into the society around them. Of course it's a shame that they would even have to do that but I think they should have for the sake of their children and keeping their family together, not having to move around all the time, etc. Any thoughts?

[–] riddlerap 13 years ago

Well like you kind of alluded to, Sue didn't believe in lying about something so significant, but was not willing to be tied down or restricted by a piece of paper, for whatever reason/personal beliefs.

Also, I think it was a pretty big deal. Back then children out of wedlock were not common at all, and definitely looked down upon. If it was just the two of them with no children, most likely they would not have had as tough of a problem finding a place to be accepted.

Christian values penetrated society to a whole different level than we currently lie in.

[–] goshiluvu 13 years ago

I didn't understand the marriage part. If his wife had remarried and apparently to someone with money, she must have been divorced from Jude. This would have left him free to marry Sue.

[–] Sylvie17 12 years ago

I know! And her husband seemed like he would have been agreeable to give her a divorce. I realize she objected to marriage on principle, but once she had a child by Jude and they were happy together, I don't see why she could not have gotten married to Jude, to make their lives easier. It was so selfish and foolish not to. Maybe Hardy should have made Jude's and Sue's Ex's more hateful and not willing to give them divorces-it would have made the story less frustrating and the characters more understandable and sympathetic.

[–] samwyse79 11 years ago

Idealism is great and all, but Sue ruined the lives of everyone. Jude should have put some sense into her.

[–] catherineursula 9 years ago

@samwyse79 - Very true and I agree. I think Sue's idealism was truly selfish. I admire her for that but alternatively despise her for the fact that it went too far and ruined the lives of not only the innocent children in this story, but that of Jude and the husband she chose to marry. In effect, her actions in retrospect were that of a hypocrite, ie. her strong feelings against religion and then forsaking Jude for the church and religion after what happened to the children. Of course this is only one aspect. I also think that no one was innocent in the film, aside from the children. Jude and Arabella were neither innocent.