History Main / MalMariee

* Defied in Creator/DanielleSteel's ''A Perfect Stranger'': Raphaella and her husband John Henry have a forty-year age difference, but their marriage is happy and fulfilling until he suffers a crippling stroke. While Raphaella does end up falling for another man (who is also older than her), their relationship is unconsummated out of loyalty to her husband [[note]] the tv movie changes this for {{Fanservice}}[[/note]]. As John Henry is far more concerned for Raphaella's well being after his rapidly approaching death than anything else, he ends up arranging a meeting with Alex (who is aware that he wouldn't have had a chance with Raphaella without John Henry's illness) and coming to a gentlemen's agreement of sorts. In the final scene, Raphaella, who's returned to her miserable family out of guilt for her feelings for Alex, receives a posthumous letter from John Henry giving his blessing.

* ''Literature/CodexAlera'': Caria is married off to Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera in a politically arranged marriage. She is fifty years younger than her husband and they have a loveless, SexlessMarriage. Her husband doesn't treat her well and ignores her, so this trope lacks the jealousy part. In the spirit of the trope, she ends up having an affair with a charismatic and handsome man Attis who is manipulating her. [[spoiler:It's revealed Caria has been poisoning her husband for years, using her medical knowledge from the Academy.]]

SubTrope of SympatheticAdulterer. Frequently this trope follows from an ArrangedMarriage or a MarriageOfConvenience. Contrast AgeGapRomance and MayDecemberRomance, which is for couples with a major age difference who form a functional, loving relationship. See also OldManMarryingAChild.

The Mal Mariée (French for "badly married") is a young woman unhappily married to a much older man. Merely being a bit older isn't enough and there has to be a significant age difference. She is almost always innocent and beautiful, and was likely married against her will. He is probably ugly, probably cruel, and definitely [[GreenEyedMonster obsessively]] [[CrazyJealousGuy jealous]]; he often keeps her imprisoned (most iconically, [[GirlInTheTower in a tower]]) to avoid her interacting with other men.

[[quoteright:350:[[Literature/TheCanterburyTales https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mal_marie.png]]]]

[[quoteright:350: [[Literature/TheCanterburyTales https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mal_mariee_merchantstale.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Blind Januarie helping his wife May into the tree where her paramour Damyan awaits her.]]

This never works. The more he tries to keep her for his own, the less she wants to do with him -- and sooner or later, some handsome young knight, poet, student or fairy will find a way to romance her.

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' Through flashbacks we learn [[spoiler: Ymir Fritz was the first Titan shifter and used her powers to expand the Eldian tribe.]] As a teenager, [[spoiler: her [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe "reward"]] was to bear children for King Fritz, a man easily old enough to be her grandfather. Ymir was Queen in name, as Fritz treated her more like an object than an equal, but due to her slave programming, [[StockholmSyndrome Ymir sheepishly obeyed him despite having the means to leave him or defend herself.]] She spent the last years of her short life bearing three daughters and furthering his campaigns, until she was assassinated by a spear meant for Fritz, [[KickTheDog who orders her to get up and work]] [[TwistedEucharist and forces their daughters to devour her body to claim her Titan shifting abilities]].]]

* Emma, the [[OriginalCharacter protagonist]] of ''Fanfic/TheSecret''. She's a beautiful and innocent twenty-one year old who is [[ArrangedMarriage forced]] to marry Frederick Devlin, whose [[RichJerk wealth]] is matched by his {{Jerkass}}ery. His age is not clearly given but he's indicated to be much older than Emma (he reminds her of her father in some ways, so it can be inferred he's closer to his age than her's). He's ugly, sleazy and feels entitled to Emma. On the first day of their marriage, he rapes her and beats her into unconsciousness when she tries to fight back, then leaves her locked in her room. Luckily for Emma, he ''doesn't'' lock the window and underestimates Emma. After learning she's escaped, he decides that once he gets her back he'll drug her to keep her under control. Meanwhile, Emma finds shelter with Thorin, who is both much better looking and a ''much'' better person than Frederick (though he's technically [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld older]], seeing how dwarves live longer and age slower than humans), and ends up having a relationship with him. She never feels guilty about it for one second, save over the fact that Thorin is also supposed to be marrying someone else (though his betrothed [[ManipulativeBitch isn't exactly]] [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen the stuff of dreams]] either).

* One folk tale has the old husband so jealous that he claims to leave on a trip, but comes back in various disguises: as a priest, a minstrel and a soldier, and seduces his wife in the guise of each. When he comes back (as himself), he demands to know if she's been faithful, and she admits she slept with three men. But then she adds she only did so because she recognized him, and therefore was not committing adultery.

** In "The Miller's Tale", Alisoun is young, attractive, amorous and lustful, and a reputed beauty. John the carpenter is Alisoun's much older husband and he's constantly afraid that she'll cheat on him. The narrator says he's extremely jealous and very protective of her, but he's also very stupid and doesn't ''act'' like the obsessed, jealous spouse. He willingly takes young male boarders like Nicholas into his home, and he seems very devoted to his wife and concerned for her safety. Young Nicholas becomes Alisoun's lover and she is also courted by Absolom. When John hears Absolon serenading Alisoun outside their window in the middle of the night, he only asks if she hears it, too. Poor stupid John ends up cheated on, tricked by his wife and humiliated in front of the entire town. It doesn't turn out that well for the other men involved either; Nicholas ''does'' get to have sex with Alisoun, but also gets a red hot bar of iron in the backside, and Absolom unwittingly kisses Alisoun's "nether eye" (and gets farted on). Alisoun is really the only person who comes out of it a clear winner.

* ''Adventure under the Bed'' (a TV adaptation of Creator/FyodorDostoevsky's short story): Nadia is a 17-year-old girl married to an ugly, senile and very, very old man. Two men accidentally come into their flat (both looked for the flat in the top floor, and failed to notice there was another staircase). They hide under the bed, fearing they hear her husband coming and thinking he will deduce they are her lovers. Nadia's old husband knew her as a little girl and she was forced to marry him because her father owed him money. He's somewhat affectionate but keeps apologizing for hurting her and wants to see her scars he's responsible for. He keeps drinking vodka during the evening and gets very lecherous and more and more repulsive. She's embarrassed by his behavior because of the witnesses under the bed. At the end of the movie, it's revealed that Nadia's actual young lover was hidden in a wardrobe.

* ''Series/{{Vikings}}'': Earl Haraldson's young daughter Thyri is married off to an old man, Earl Bjarni. Both Thyri and her mother Siggy are dissatisfied with this decision. Earl Bjarni tells Thyri about their wedding, the sons he expects from her and promises her gifts, but she is visibly repulsed. During their wedding night, the fat, old and drunk earl passes out before he can consummate the marriage. In "Burial of the Dead", he complains about Thyri's lack of enthusiasm in bed and threatens to beat her for disobeying. Later, after Haraldson is defeated by Ragnar Lothbrok, Thyri is saved from her horrible marriage by her mother Siggy who kills Earl Bjarni in front of everyone. Thyri looks beyond grateful.

* The Irish folksong "High Jeannie High" describes a woman whose father has married her off to a man "of three score years and three". He has sixty plows, but Jeannie would rather be married to a young man even if he was poor, because her husband doesn't even touch her in bed at night. [[spoiler: So she takes him out on the plains and ties him to a windmill, leaving him to die of exposure.]]

* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'': Part of Sharwyn's backstory, ultimately {{Defied}}: when her mother found herself in misery after inheriting a mountain of debts from her deceased husband, she tried to force Sharwyn into marrying Lord Farthingdon, described as a lustful and possessive individual, only for his wealth. Meanwhile, Sharwyn fell in love for Dennan, an apprentice bard in the service of Lord Farthingdon. She tried to maintain a secret relationship with him while pretending to be interested in the wedding. Her mother however eventually found out about her infedelty, leading Sharwyn to finally take a decision: forfeit the marriage and run away with Dennan, leaving behind her mother and Lord Farthingdon before the wedding day, who tried to have the two captured and executed.

* In ''Series/{{Poldark}}'', teenage Morwenna is forcibly married to much older vicar Osbourne Whitworth. He repeatedly [[MaritalRapeLicence rapes her]] and threatens to hit her.

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' [[spoiler: Ymir Fritz was the first Titan shifter and used her powers to expand the Eldian tribe. As a teenager, her [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe "reward"]] was to bear children for King Fritz, a man easily old enough to be her grandfather. Ymir was Queen in name, as Fritz treated her more like an object than an equal. Due to her slave programming, [[StockholmSyndrome Ymir sheepishly obeyed him despite having the means to leave him or defend herself.]] She spent the last years of her short life bearing three daughters and furthering his campaigns, until she is assassinated by a spear meant for Fritz, [[KickTheDog who orders her to get up and work]] [[TwistedEucharist and forces their daughters to devour her body to claim her Titan shifting abilities]].]]

* VideoGame/NeverwinterNights: Part of Sharwyn's backstory, ultimately {{Defied}}: when her mother found herself in misery after inheriting a mountain of debts from her deceased husband, she tried to force Sharwyn into marrying Lord Farthingdon, described as a lustful and possessive individual, only for his wealth. Meanwhile, Sharwyn fell in love for Dennan, an apprentice bard in the service of Lord Farthingdon. She tried to maintain a secret relationship with him while pretending to be interested in the wedding. Her mother however eventually found out about her infedelty, leading Sharwyn to finally take a decision: forfeit the marriage and run away with Dennan, leaving behind her mother and Lord Farthingdon before the wedding day, who tried to have the two captured and executed.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Adventure under the Bed'' (a TV adaptation of Creator/FyodorDostoevsky's short story): Nadia is a 17-year-old girl married to an ugly, senile and very, very old man. Two men accidentally come into their flat (both looked for the flat in the top floor, and failed to notice there was another staircase). They hide under the bed, fearing they hear her husband coming and thinking he will deduce they are her lovers. Nadia's old husband knew her as a little girl and she was forced to marry him because her father owed him money. He's somewhat affectionate but keeps apologizing for hurting her and wants to see her scars he's responsible for. He keeps drinking vodka during the evening and gets very lecherous and more and more repulsive. She's embarrassed by his behavior because of the witnesses under the bed. At the end of the movie, it's revealed that Nadia's actual young lover was hidden in a wardrobe.
* ''Series/TheHandmaidsTale'': Eden is a 15-year-old girl forcibly assigned to marry Nick Blaine, an Eye of Gilead serving at Commander Waterford's household. Nick is in love with June, who serves as a Handmaid for Waterford and his Wife. Both Nick and June are in their thirties. Eden tries to make the marriage work, but Nick's not interested in her, which she takes hard. She soon falls in love with guardian Isaac who is about her age. In a twist, she's exasperated that Nick is not jealous at all and angry that he doesn't even care she kissed another man. After chatting with June, who advises her to grab whatever chance at happiness she has in their crapsack world, Eden and Isaac run away. [[spoiler:They are caught and executed -- Eden for infidelity, Isaac for desertion.]]
* ''Series/MurdochMysteries'', "Marked Twain": A solution to the murder case of the week lies in this trope. A rich old guy has a pretty young wife who cheats on him with a bartender from his club. The bartender is about her age and the husband kills him out of jealousy.
* ''Series/{{Vikings}}'': Earl Haraldson's young daughter Thyri is married off to an old man, Earl Bjarni. Both Thyri and her mother Siggy are dissatisfied with this decision. Earl Bjarni tells Thyri about their wedding, the sons he expects from her and promises her gifts, but she is visibly repulsed. During their wedding night, the fat, old and drunk earl passes out before he can consummate the marriage. In "Burial of the Dead", he complains about Thyri's lack of enthusiasm in bed and threatens to beat her for disobeying. Later, after Haraldson is defeated by Ragnar Lothbrok, Thyri is saved from her horrible marriage by her mother Siggy who kills Earl Bjarni in front of everyone. Thyri looks beyond grateful.
[[/folder]]

SubTrope of SympatheticAdulterer. Frequently this trope follows from an ArrangedMarriage or a MarriageOfConvenience. Contrast AgeGapRomance and MayDecemberRomance, which is for couples with a major age difference who form a functional, loving relationship.

Very common in medieval literature, particularly in troubadour and trouvere poetry and the lais of Marie de France. A ForgottenTrope now, though it may get nods in stories with medieval or medieval-inspired settings. The trope is however subconsciously recognized by the audience who feel uncomfortable with predatory old men who romantically pursue and exploit very young women. See also OldManMarryingAChild.

Very common in medieval literature, particularly in troubadour and trouvere poetry and the lais of Marie de France. A ForgottenTrope now, though it may get nods in stories with medieval or medieval-inspired settings. The trope is however subconsciously recognized by the audience who feel uncomfortable with predatory old men who romantically pursue and exploit very young women.

* Emma, the [[OriginalCharacter protagonist]] of ''Fanfic/TheSecret'', has shades of this. She's a beautiful and innocent twenty-one year old who is [[ArrangedMarriage forced]] to marry Frederick Devlin, whose [[RichJerk wealth]] is matched by his {{Jerkass}}ery. His age is not clearly given but he's indicated to be much older than Emma (he reminds her of her father in some ways, so it can be inferred he's closer to his age than her's). He's ugly, sleazy and feels entitled to Emma. On the first day of their marriage, he rapes her and beats her into unconciousness when she tries to fight back, then leaves her locked in her room. Luckily for Emma, he ''doesn't'' lock the window and underestimates Emma. After learning she's escaped, he decides that once he gets her back he'll drug her to keep her under control. Meanwhile, Emma finds shelter with Thorin, who is both much better looking and a ''much'' better person than Frederick (though he's technically [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld older]], seeing how dwarves live longer and age slower than humans), and ends up having a relationship with him. She never feels guilty about it for one second, save over the fact that Thorin is also supposed to be marrying someone else (though his betrothed [[ManipulativeBitch isn't exactly]] [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen the stuff of dreams]] either).

* ''Adventure under the Bed'' (a TV adaptation of Dostoyevsky's short story): Nadia is a 17-year-old girl married to an ugly, senile and very, very old man. Two men accidentally come into their flat (both looked for the flat in the top floor, and failed to notice there was another staircase). They hide under the bed, fearing they hear her husband coming and thinking he will deduce they are her lovers. Nadia's old husband knew her as a little girl and she was forced to marry him because her father owed him money. He's somewhat affectionate but keeps apologizing for hurting her and wants to see her scars he's responsible for. He keeps drinking vodka during the evening and gets very lecherous and more and more repulsive. She's embarrassed by his behavior because of the witnesses under the bed. At the end of the movie, it's revealed that Nadia's actual young lover was hidden in a wardrobe.
* Eden in ''Series/TheHandmaidsTale'' is a 15-year-old girl forcibly assigned to marry Nick Blaine, an Eye of Gilead serving at Commander Waterford's household. Nick is in love with June, who serves as a Handmaid for Waterford and his Wife. Both Nick and June are in their thirties. Eden tries to make the marriage work, but Nick's not interested in her, which she takes hard. She soon falls in love with guardian Isaac who is about her age. In a twist, she's exasperated that Nick is not jealous at all and angry that he doesn't even care she kissed another man. After chatting with June, who advises her to grab whatever chance at happiness she has in their crapsack world, Eden and Isaac run away. [[spoiler:They are caught and executed -- Eden for infidelity, Isaac for desertion.]]

* Marie de France:

* In ''Literature/{{Middlemarch}}'', Dorothea marries the elderly Reverend Casaubon after falling in love with his scholarly works, only to realize that he's boring, jealous, and actively discouraging of intellectual pursuits for women. Luckily for her, Casaubon dies shortly after she falls in mutual love with his kind, adventurous nephew Will. Unluckily, Casaubon was bitter enough to write in his will that Will and Dorothea would have to give up all of his inherited fortune if they ever married, thus setting up the main StarCrossedLovers plot of the novel.

** "The Merchant's Tale": Old Januarie is deceived by his young wife May and her lover Damyan after Januarie suddenly goes blind. Januarie is over sixty and May not yet twenty. Both names are very [[DecemberMayRomance symbolic]]: Januarie is as bare and unfruitful as the winter month[[note]]and was originally the second-to-last month on the Roman calendar before being moved to the beginning, which Chaucer doubtless knew having the education of an author[[/note]], and May is youthful and fresh and associated with spring[[note]]and, related to the prior note, the first month of the Roman year even before the addition of January and February[[/note]]. Januarie marries May [[DirtyOldMan largely out of lust]]. It is not known why May accepts his offer; however, he is a rich man and above her social class. Damyan, a squire of Januarie's court, falls in love with May and she reciprocates. Januarie loses his sight, and his blindness increases his possessiveness and jealousy toward his young wife May. The lovers manage to sneak up to the branches of a pear tree in May's garden and begin to make love right above her husband's head. An enraged god Pluto restores Januarie's sight, but goddess Proserpina allows May to outwit him by explaining that she was merely struggling with Damyan in the tree because she had been told that it would magically restore Januarie's sight. The fooled Januarie and May continue to live together, and quite happily. May tells Januarie that he may be mistaken on more occasions, indicating her infidelity will go on.

** "The Merchant's Tale": Old Januarie is deceived by his young wife May and her lover Damyan after Januarie suddenly goes blind. Januarie is over sixty and May not yet twenty. Both names are very symbolic: Januarie is as bare and unfruitful as the winter month, and May is youthful and fresh and associated with spring. Januarie marries May [[DirtyOldMan largely out of lust]]. It is not known why May accepts his offer; however, he is a rich man and above her social class. Damyan, a squire of Janiarie's court, falls in love with May and she reciprocates. Januarie loses his sight, and his blindness increases his possessiveness and jealousy toward his young wife May. The lovers manage to sneak up to the branches of a pear tree in May's garden and begin to make love right above her husband's head. An enraged god Pluto restores Januarie's sight, but goddess Proserpina allows May to outwit him by explaining that she was merely struggling with Damyan in the tree because she had been told that it would magically restore Januarie's sight. The fooled Januarie and May continue to live together, and quite happily. May tells Januarie that he may be mistaken on more occasions, indicating her infidelity will go on.

The older spouse is ''highly'' protective and tends to be aggressive towards any other character who even so much as hints at interest in their spouse. He is also often [[DomesticAbuse harsh and cruel towards his young wife]] because he constantly thinks she's cheating. If she's not cheating, she very often will eventually [[SelfFulfillingProphecy because he suspects her anyway and his jealousy is disgusting]]. Or he can be absolutely clueless. The story may end with the young wife outsmarting her husband and being happy with her lover, but it can also end in long-suffering or tragedy.