What is 權宜婚姻?

權宜婚姻是一種浪漫敘事裝置,兩人為了實際原因——金錢、地位、安全或法律利益——而結婚,而非出於愛情。這種題材常描繪義務、接近度和共同目標如何推動伴侶走向親密或產生衝突。

在虛構作品中,權宜婚姻是出於實用原因而結成的聯盟:為了保護遺產、獲取公民身份、形成政治聯盟、避免醜聞,或獲得其他社會或經濟利益。與愛情婚姻不同,雙方以既定的目的與界線開始,隨著感情、秘密、權力失衡或外部壓力的介入,關係會產生戲劇張力,使安排變得複雜。變體包括假結婚(為了表面需要而偽裝成婚)、互利的聯盟,以及以明確條款規定的契約婚姻。這一題材具有彈性——可用於歷史、現代與虛構設定——並以角色發展為中心,隨著實際需要演變為情感賭注。

Usage example

在《無盡的浪漫》中,選擇「權宜婚姻」的情節起點可能是角色接受一場條約婚姻以拯救她的家族莊園;前幾章重點在於談判與日常家務,之後的選擇決定這段關係是否會變得真實,或最終解散。

Practical application

對於作家與互動式敘事者而言,權宜婚姻提供明確的外部目標、內置衝突以及可被玩家選擇挑戰的明確邊界——適合分支式敘事。對於讀者與玩家,這一題材承諾逐步的情感回報:看著戒心重的角色學會信任、直面過去的傷痛,並決定自己真正想要的是什麼。在行銷方面,突出此題材能吸引喜歡緩慢升溫的浪漫、角色之間的權力動態,以及義務與欲望之間張力的粉絲。

FAQ

Is a marriage of convenience the same as an arranged marriage?

They can overlap but aren’t identical. An arranged marriage is set up by others (family, matchmakers) and may or may not be for pragmatic reasons, while a marriage of convenience specifically emphasizes a practical purpose (legal/financial/social) agreed to by the partners.

How does a 'fake marriage' differ from this trope?

A fake marriage is a subtype where both parties pretend to be married for appearances (to fool others). If the pretend union is entered primarily for practical advantages and later becomes real, it functions as a marriage of convenience trope as well.

Do marriages of convenience always end in love?

No. Some stories end with emotional attachment and a happy or ambiguous romantic outcome; others use the arrangement to examine independence, compromise, or the cost of sacrifice. The ending depends on the story’s themes and character choices.

Are there ethical or consent concerns writers should watch for?

Yes. Make sure both parties have agency in the agreement, avoid romanticizing coercion or exploitation, and handle power imbalances with nuance. Clear motivations and consequences help keep the story responsible and emotionally resonant.