And there are endless stories of falling for the unsuitable unattainable beautiful woman. Doesn't matter that she's poor, or an actress, or her father is disreputable etc. -- he loves her because she's beautiful.

You never see the opposite -- you don't get epic tales of the man falling for the unsuitable funny looking chick because she's just so darn nice or fertile or can really thresh.

But neither is real life.

Its a reflection of real life. And, in the case of the non-nobility, its the only description we have of their lives and what they valued.

I suppose its possible that your average peasant boys sat up late nights pining for the girl down the lane who was really great at stretching a dollar... but the ballads we have talk about the pretty ones.

I'm pretty sure there's a midrash saying that the reason Jacob preferred Rachel was that, the first time they meet, she gives water to the camels first, and then drinks herself. (Actually, there's a similar thing where Abraham's servant first meets Rebecca -- he asks for water for himself, and she not only gives him the water she'd just drawn, but also goes and gets more water for his camels. Lots of water imagery around getting wives in the Bible.)

The only thing that's said against Leah in the Bible is that "she had weak eyes." Lots of interpretations of that.

Poets might pine for the beautiful maiden, but a farmer is a sucker if he doesn't marry someone who can get the best price for eggs.

Not a great example in a Jewish understanding then. Unless my Christian teaching of it was unusual the Christian understanding seems to be that she was less lovely.

Lots of water imagery around getting wives in the Bible.

I am terribly irreverent because this immediately made me laugh.

Hey babe, want me to fetch you some water, mmm? t eyebrow waggles.

Devi is trying to attack my typing fingers. Given she still hasn't turned up that damned mouse, maybe she's a little frustrated with the lack of active prey....

Not a great example in a Jewish understanding then. Unless my Christian teaching of it was unusual the Christian understanding seems to be that she was less lovely.

Hey babe, want me to fetch you some water, mmm?

Oh baby, I love how you pump that well....

Poets might pine for the beautiful maiden, but a farmer is a sucker if he doesn't marry someone who can get the best price for eggs.

And poets appeared from under logs? Stepped out of voids unrelated to the society they lived in? And people popularized the songs that they didn't like or relate to in any way?

And poets appeared from under logs? Stepped out of voids unrelated to the society they lived in? And people popularized the songs that they didn't like or relate to in any way?

For an average person, it's wishful thinking that the only consideration is what a person looks like. In real life, you not only need to live with the person, you have to build a life with them. So in an individual case, personality, skills, whatever else a person brings to the table is at least as important as a societal evaluation of their physical beauty.

I'm not saying that beauty isn't valued. Just that it isn't valued above all else.