Breaking News: There is a scandal in the Court! Queen Vis, Wife of King Mobad as allegedly entered into a secret romance with none other than the King's own Brother, Ramin. Sources close to the court tell us that this situation is quickly turning into a crisis for the court leading to questions on the very meaning of "perfect love".
To understand this dire situation, we must go back long before Vis became queen and married Mobad. According to royal sources, Vis's mother (Shahru) had promised her daughter to Mobad, as a way to keep Mobad from pursuing her. Specifically, Mobad had asked, "If you won't grant me happiness and life, Give me your daughter,"(Vis and Ramin, 7). Vis's future had been set in stone even before she she was born. This arrangement—even if it was one that ended up being forgotten—shows that marriages in the royal world were not necessarily about love, but rather about control. Vis's early life had also made this situation more complicated, but she seems to have been put on a pedestal by her parents. During this time, Shahru had forgotten about her promise to Mobad; as a result, Vis ended up married to her brother Viru. Her mother had described this union as one in which "the best of women weds the best of men,"(Vis and Ramin,18). After being told this, "love sprang up in [Vis's] heart, she'd love Viru, and, say nothing, she acceded to Her mother's words" (Vis and Ramin, 18). Her love for her brother seemed to be very strong. However, Mobad came back, asserted his claim over Vis, and brought her back to the court, turning her into more of a possession than a companion.
The story gets dramatic from here. It was the nurse at the center of this story. Behind the scenes we have been told that she played a big role in encouraging Vis to to change her promised loyalties. From sources we have been told that Ramin was already in love with Vis just from barely seeing her before, specifically, as, "the face of Vis appeared; Ramin's poor heart Was hers as he felt consciousness depart,"(Vis and Ramin,57). The nurse really had to persuade Vis to change loyalties. However, according to sources Ramin went to the nurse first about how he was dealing with his unrequited love for Vis. He told the nurse that, " A lover's life is worse Than any other wretch's life, dear nurse," (80). The nurses reaction to His agonizing over Vis seem to be one of opposition, "but still your magic won't be able to Prevail on Vis to give herself to you,"(Vis and Ramin, 85). He threatens her with his agony using her love of him to get her to help him with Vis, he guilts her till her opposition to his love is gone(88-89).The nurse ends with putting herself in the middle as if to bring "true love" to Vis. Vis who is grieving over her Brother Husband is persuaded by the nurse when she tells Vis of someone who would compare to Viru by saying Ramin has a face like Viru's(94). According to sources the nurse wanted to replace Vis's love of her brother with love of Ramin by convincing Vis that Ramin will give her the same love she had with her "brother husband"(Vis and Ramin,94-97). The nurses persuasion did take awhile to work but it led to Vis actually seeing Ramin is attracted to him but does not give in(Vis and Ramin,115). When they do meet she asks him,"Will love be like a rose, that in day Opens and blossoms and then fades away, or like a jewel, a turquoise, that persists and come what may still stubbornly exists?" (Vis and Ramin, 126) He promises her happiness and she falls for him, revealing their love (Vis and Ramin, 128).
Herein lies our scandal: it was the nurse who urged Vis to give Ramin, the king's brother, a chance! Unlike her arraigned marriage to Mobad who seemingly was in love with the idea of her and her, her relationship to Ramin is seen through agony, and personal choice. Though Vis and Ramin's relationship may be representative of a "true love" rather than one sanctioned by Vis's mother. There bond seems to be out of choice. The nurses actions highlight how "perfect love" it not necessarily morally approved but rather from internal feeling that puts love above duty.
Now to the question at the heart of this scandal: can love that violates family and moral bounds still be considered "perfect"?
Vis's actions are a dangerous threat to the royal authority and to social order. Adultery is frowned upon: it is not just a betrayal of loyalty to the marriage, but a betrayal of the throne. King Mobad's control is expected to play a role in his marriage. Vis's relationship with Ramin challenges Mobad's authority.
Consequences still remain; their relationship does a lot of damage. Through all of this, Mobad has become a shell of himself. According to sources close to Mobad, he has been wandering around grieving something that he never had to begin with(her love). Their marriage was not a choice. Vis's realtionship with Ramin was a choice. This scandal sidelines Mobad, as he loses control.
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