Difference between revisions of "Maiden"
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[[File:The North Remembers by Isabel Westling.jpg|Despite being married to [[Tyrion Lannister]], [[Sansa Stark]] has remained a maid.<br>© Isabel Westling |thumb|300px|right]] | [[File:The North Remembers by Isabel Westling.jpg|Despite being married to [[Tyrion Lannister]], [[Sansa Stark]] has remained a maid.<br>© Isabel Westling |thumb|300px|right]] | ||
− | A '''maid''' or a '''maiden''' usually refers to a virgin woman. | + | A '''maid''' or a '''maiden''' usually refers to a virgin woman. Maidens may be wedded and bedded; However, many husbands will wait until the bride is fifteen or sixteen before sleeping with them. Very young mothers tend to have significantly higher rates of death in childbirth, as noted by the [[maesters]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Category/C91/P210/ Age of Sexual Relations in Westeros (October 05, 1999)]</ref> |
− | A guarantee of a woman's virginity is normally the presence of a maidenhead. | + | A guarantee of a woman's virginity is normally the presence of a maidenhead. Women are generally expected to be virgins on their wedding night, more so for noblewomen. However, noblewomen are more likely to lose their maidenheads during horseback riding, it is said, and proof of their maidenhead during the wedding night - a bloody sheet - is therefore not often insisted upon.{{Ref|AFFC|28}} |
− | The loss of a | + | The loss of a noblewoman's virginity can diminish her possibilities for marriage. After [[Jason Lannister (son of Gerold)|Jason Lannister]] took the virginity of Lady [[Alys Stackspear]], during which she became pregnant, his brother, Lord [[Tytos Lannister]], insisted upon their marriage.<ref>Unabridged edition of ''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]: [http://www.georgerrmartin.com/world-of-ice-and-fire-sample/ The Westerlands (georgerrmartin.com)]</ref> However, [[Delena Florent]] who had been deflowered by King [[Robert I Baratheon]] and who had given birth to a bastard son by the King, was eventually offered Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s youngest son, the dwarf [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]], as a husband. While Lord Tywin himself made the offer, he considered it to be below the standards of his house nonetheless.{{Ref|ASOS|19}} |
− | Virginity can also be held in high esteem by the [[Dothraki]] | + | Virginity can also be held in high esteem by the [[Dothraki]]. According to [[Magister]] [[Illyrio Mopatis]], when [[Viserys Targaryen]] attempted to claim his [[Daenerys Targaryen|sister's]] maidenhead prior to her wedding to ''Khal'' [[Drogo]], he would have undone years of planning,{{Ref|aDwD|5}} implying that Khal Drogo would not have accepted Daenerys as his bride if she had not come to him a virgin. |
− | A virgin man can also be referred to as a maiden{{Ref|asos|75 | + | A virgin man can also be referred to as a maiden{{Ref|asos|75}} or a man-maid{{Ref|adwd|68}} on occasion. |
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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==Quotes== | ==Quotes== | ||
− | {{Quote|I am still a maid.{{Ref|asos|68 | + | {{Quote|I am still a maid.{{Ref|asos|68}}}} – [[Sansa Stark]], to [[Lysa Tully]] |
− | + | {{Quote|[[Randyll Tarly|He]] told me once I was sure to die a maiden.{{Ref|asos|75}}}} – [[Samwell Tarly]], to [[Jon Snow]] | |
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− | {{Quote|[[Randyll Tarly|He]] told me once I was sure to die a maiden. | ||
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− | {{Quote|[[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]] never shed a tear, though it was she who was leaving hearth and home to seal an alliance with her maidenhood.{{Ref|affc|13 | + | {{Quote|[[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]] never shed a tear, though it was she who was leaving hearth and home to seal an alliance with her maidenhood.{{Ref|affc|13}}}} - Ser [[Arys Oakheart]] |
==References and Notes== | ==References and Notes== |
Revision as of 20:51, 8 October 2016
A maid or a maiden usually refers to a virgin woman. Maidens may be wedded and bedded; However, many husbands will wait until the bride is fifteen or sixteen before sleeping with them. Very young mothers tend to have significantly higher rates of death in childbirth, as noted by the maesters.[1]
A guarantee of a woman's virginity is normally the presence of a maidenhead. Women are generally expected to be virgins on their wedding night, more so for noblewomen. However, noblewomen are more likely to lose their maidenheads during horseback riding, it is said, and proof of their maidenhead during the wedding night - a bloody sheet - is therefore not often insisted upon.[2]
The loss of a noblewoman's virginity can diminish her possibilities for marriage. After Jason Lannister took the virginity of Lady Alys Stackspear, during which she became pregnant, his brother, Lord Tytos Lannister, insisted upon their marriage.[3] However, Delena Florent who had been deflowered by King Robert I Baratheon and who had given birth to a bastard son by the King, was eventually offered Lord Tywin Lannister's youngest son, the dwarf Tyrion, as a husband. While Lord Tywin himself made the offer, he considered it to be below the standards of his house nonetheless.[4]
Virginity can also be held in high esteem by the Dothraki. According to Magister Illyrio Mopatis, when Viserys Targaryen attempted to claim his sister's maidenhead prior to her wedding to Khal Drogo, he would have undone years of planning,[5] implying that Khal Drogo would not have accepted Daenerys as his bride if she had not come to him a virgin.
A virgin man can also be referred to as a maiden[6] or a man-maid[7] on occasion.
See Also
Quotes
I am still a maid.[8]
– Sansa Stark, to Lysa Tully
– Samwell Tarly, to Jon Snow
A Frey girl, and not of my choosing, she is not even a maiden.[9]
- Lancel Lannister, on his chosen bride
Do you want to die a man-maid?[7]
- Ser Gerris Drinkwater, to Quentyn Martell
- Ser Arys Oakheart
References and Notes
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Age of Sexual Relations in Westeros (October 05, 1999)
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ Unabridged edition of The World of Ice and Fire: The Westerlands (georgerrmartin.com)
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 75, Samwell IV.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 68, The Dragontamer.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68, Sansa VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.