μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

The faithless widow.

Sex. · Married life. · Faithlessness in marriage. · view the constellation · filed as T231

Filed across the traditions
  • Irish myth *Cross.
Within the index

Filed under Faithlessness in marriage.

5 finer motifs beneath it
Faithless widow betrothed anew at husband's funeral Faithless widow fans husband's grave. She does not want to remarry until the body is cold (or the earth on the grave is dry) Faithless widow ready to marry messenger who brings news of husband's death. The husband, however, has only feigned death to test her. (Cf. T235.) Faithless widow's heartlessness repels the new suitor. She obeys him when he tells her to knock out the teeth of her dead husband. Fearing like treatment, he leaves Faithless widow marries slayer of husband
Filed beside it
Wife and husband believe each unfaithful at the slightest provocation Faithless wife causes her husband to go insane Woman deserts husband for unworthy lover. (Deformed, mutilated, monstrous, or of different race.) Wronged wife goes to wronged husband Husband transforms himself to test his wife's faithfulness. (Cf. T231.3.) Woman enamored of an unknown knight in a tournament loses interest when she finds that it is her husband. (Cf. R222.) Old man married to young, unfaithful wife Adulteress on her death-bed reveals the illegitimacy of her children. Did not want her husband to be burdened with their bringing up Series of husbands try in vain to control adulteress Fight between husband and lover for kingdom and wife Woman reveals whereabouts of husband to enemy in revenge for desertion Man unfaithful even on wedding night Object stolen (left) as token that infidelity has been discovered Faithlessness in marriage – miscellaneous

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