MovieChat Forums > The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2003) Discussion > Why did they have seperate bedrooms?

Why did they have seperate bedrooms?

posted 15 years ago by Scifi71
8 replies | jump to latest

Did married couples not sleep together in the 1900's?

[–] jferson 15 years ago

I would assume it is because he did not love her and only wanted her to bare him children.
In the Book Rose Red by Stephen King(I think that was the name of it) They also had a larger age span between Ellen and John, He was 20 years older then her.

[–] Scifi71 15 years ago

I dont recall them saying how old he was in the film. But SB and the other actor who played him in Rose Red wer very different ages.

[–] waterdrops9 8 years ago

In the 2003 movie- Ellen and John looked the same age.

[–] coelacanth1938 15 years ago

They slept together, just like they do today. And they fought woith each other, just like they do today.
My grandparents used to live in Hell's Kitchen, and whenever they fought, grandpa slept on the fire escape outside their window.

[–] Scifi71 15 years ago

(They slept together, just like they do today.)

Most married couples who "sleep together" occupy the same bedroom

[–] sleepyrodent 15 years ago

I believe it was customary in the early 1900's for wealthier couples to have separate bedrooms. I'm not sure why exactly. It could be because social constraints dictated that even husband and wife had to adhere to strict rules of propriety (much like Victorian England), or to make a statement about their wealth, or simply because many in the upper class married for status instead of love.

[–] Scifi71 15 years ago

Intresting. Thanks.

[–] Strazdamonas 10 years ago

The thing about wealthy family marriages is that most of them tend to be arranged marriages with "good choice", and rarely out of love. As such, the sleeping together was more out of "socially acceptable only if has heirs" and not out of love or lust. It was not uncommon to have lovers for both sides and it was a sort of public secret, everyone knew but pretended they didnt.
While this changed quite early for the poorer population as chances for "good arrangement" weren't as high to begin with, The richer families extended this tradition well into the 19th century and onwards. We can still see alusion to this on current royal families, they are not allowed to marry who they love if te person is "not high enough".

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