What are the possible reasons for wives' adultery stories in fictional works?

In fictional works, it could be used to show extreme moral decay. Writers may use such a plot to explore the darkest corners of human relationships.

Guilt. They feel bad about what they've done and think that sharing their stories is a way to atone. For instance, they might not be able to live with the lie anymore.

One possible reason could be a lack of emotional connection in the marriage. If a mature wife feels unheard or unappreciated, she might be more vulnerable to outside attention.

One reason could be boredom. If a wife is in a dull marriage with no excitement, she might be tempted to seek novelty elsewhere. For example, if she and her husband have the same routine every day and no emotional connection.

One well - known example is in the novel 'Madame Bovary' by Gustave Flaubert. Emma Bovary, a married woman, engages in extramarital affairs out of boredom and a search for the romantic ideals she doesn't find in her marriage. This story delves deep into her character, her desires, and the consequences of her actions on her family and herself.

It could be due to character flaws or bad choices they make. Maybe they are lured by money or fame in a fictional setting.

One reason could be for the sake of family reputation. If the husband's debts become public knowledge, it could reflect badly on the family. So, the wife might pay them to maintain a positive family image. Also, if they have shared financial goals like buying a house or sending their kids to college, the wife may pay the debts to keep those goals on track.

One reason could be for financial gain. Strangers might see that a wife has access to a wealthy husband or family resources. So, they use her by tricking her into signing over property or giving them money, like in some noir detective stories.

Sometimes, it is an attempt to show the complexity of human relationships. We know that such a situation is extremely unethical in real life, but in fictional settings, it can be used to dig deeper into how emotions, desires, and lack of self - control can lead to these kinds of inappropriate actions. It also allows for exploring how different characters react to such a situation, whether it's with condemnation, acceptance, or something in between.

One reason could be to explore the fluidity of human sexuality. It helps in understanding that sexual orientation isn't always fixed.