eonweheraldodemanwe asked a question
Dornish are written so contradictory. You have characters like Oberyn or Arianne who are so sexually atypical for Westeros society. But then you have characters like Doran (didn't take a mistress after Mellario left), Quentyn (will do his duty) or Allyria and her eternal betrothal to Beric. What's Dorne real view on sexuality?
Hi there!
I had to think about this. My first reaction was : Do we need a Dornish view on sexuality? Because all the examples you cited show that there seems to be no consistent idea about sexuality in Dorne - everyone can do as they wish.
And then I thought that that is probably the reason why the rest of Westeros seems to have a garbled view on Dornish sexuality. I cite 'the Dornishman's wife' etc. The rest of Westeros seems to misunderstand the Dornish idea that leaves people to do as they want to mean that they are libertinarians, promiscuous etc. when all the Dornish seem to do is to be far more open about what people want and not be so set on propriety and the women's fidelity.
It makes sense : a society were women are treated more equally is not that restricted sexually.
By showing the different approaches of Dornish people to fidelity etc. GRRM shows us that the preconceptions of the other Westerosi countries are wrong. The Dornish are not lascivious and promiscuous. They are just more willing to accept different variants.
If your women can inherit the same as men there is no need to enforce sexual fidelity within the bounds of marriage.
We see the same with the houses in the North that have equal inheritance.
So, I think it makes sense. And it's just not one commonly accepted approach to sexuality as in Westeros (women bound by marriage, men allowed to be promiscuous) but it's rather that different approaches are commonly accepted.
They are written 'contradictory' because their view is more accepting of variants.
Of course you have different approaches in the rest of Westeros as well, but there the judgement of the society is clear. People secretly admire Robert for his bastards and make fun of Ned's onky bastard and judge adulterous women.
Thanks for the ask!
