How much of their own life can people give up while taking responsibility for a family? In Marriage Is Beautiful, Hande Soral portrays Zeynep, a character navigating the legacy of a love left unfinished in the past and emotions postponed for years. We spoke with Hande Soral about Zeynep’s devotion to her family, how Murat’s return after all these years changes her life, and the challenges of giving a second chance to a love that belongs to the past.
Zeynep has taken her younger siblings under her wing in her mother’s absence and shouldered much of her family’s responsibilities. Could having to be strong for her family have led her to suppress her own emotions?
Actually, Zeynep was someone who could take care of both herself and those around her, maintaining a certain balance in her life even after taking on all the household responsibilities following her mother’s death. However, when Murat left her and walked away, all that balance was shattered, and she devoted her entire existence to her family. We can certainly say that this led her to suppress her own emotions, postpone her desires, and even give up on some of them.
Murat’s return years later reopens wounds that Zeynep thought had healed. On one hand, there is a love left unfinished in the past; on the other, Ali Rıza’s unwavering love over the years. What do you think Zeynep expects from love after all the heartbreak she has experienced?
Just when Zeynep had stopped expecting anything from love and was even planning to continue her life with the principle that “you may be happier if you choose someone who loves you rather than someone you love,” she learns the truth and rediscovers the value of love. This sets her on a cycle in which she begins to have expectations from love once again.
Zeynep’s story also brings attention to the responsibilities traditionally placed on women within the family. What do you think her experiences tell us about the balance women try to strike between their own lives and their families’ expectations?
Zeynep’s family is actually very understanding, inclusive, fair and just. Rather than acting out of a sense of obligation, Zeynep makes her own decisions and choices, and her family always stands behind her. Nevertheless, as we also see in the Bahtiyar family, it is not easy for a woman to balance taking on responsibilities within the family with pursuing her own desires and ambitions in life.
