Inspired by a comment in Why did Amanda Grayson marry Sarek?
I was wondering if there's a canon or even expanded universe reason that indicates why, (after the death of his first wife) Sarek would marry another human?
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5I'm tempted to say it's because no self-respecting Vulcan woman would marry him afterwards.– James SheridanCommented Apr 17, 2014 at 1:08
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Or he knew about his impending illness and he knew a Human woman would be more sympathetic and stick by him.– SamCommented Apr 17, 2014 at 1:41
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1Or it was logical because he was an ambassador and humans tends to get along with all the other species.– mu is too shortCommented Apr 17, 2014 at 2:24
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@muistooshort Is this sarcasm? If this be logic from Sarek, the disease manifests strongly.– Ihor SypkoCommented Apr 17, 2014 at 17:54
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1@IhorSypko If your job is to interact with other species peacefully, it would help to have a gregarious mate to avoid being mentally boxed into only Vulcan ways of thinking. Sarek married a human originally because he was an ambassador to Earth, perhaps he found the near constant presence of a radically different point of view helpful to avoid tunnel vision.– mu is too shortCommented Apr 17, 2014 at 18:02
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3 Answers
There's no "in-canon" description of why Sarek would have married another human (e.g. as opposed to another Vulcan) but we can certainly speculate on some possible reasons;
He's damaged goods
His arranged marriage (to a Vulcan princess no less) did lead to a child but not a wedding. He describes Amanda Grayson as his "first wife".
It's certainly possible that this was a sufficiently shocking event in Vulcan high-society as to prevent him from securing another Vulcan wife of appropriate standing. Since humans have no place in the Vulcan aristocracy, there's no shame incurred in his marrying an outsider.
It's logical, given his position.
He describes his marriage to Amanda as "logical", especially given his position as Ambassador to Earth. As a Federation Ambassador, it would also make good sense to have a human wife since humans seem to be an important and influential group in the UFP.
Vulcans couples seem to have substantially less sex (on average) than human couples.
Vulcans often go for years between sex acts, supplementing time apart with prayer and meditation and only indulging in sexual acts, when together, very sparingly. Only having sex once or twice a year would probably be frustratingly rare for a newly-wed human woman and it's very possible that his sexual appetites may have changed after spending time with his first wife. I can see him becoming used to having (ahem) relations substantially more often than would be normal for a Vulcan male. A Vulcan woman would see this as gross perversion whereas a human woman would be far more understanding.
He's poorly/unwell and doesn't want it disclosed.
Sarek has known for many years that he's at risk of Bendii Syndrome. Since this manifests in outbursts of emotionality, caring for him would be an amazingly difficult task for a Vulcan woman. By comparison, a human would view his actions as relatively routine.
EU Canon
Within the EU canon, the TOS Comic : Enter the Wolves describes his courtship of Perrin Landover. The details bear a remarkable similarity to his courtship of Amanda Grayson;
"Perrin was a xeno-linguist, who had met Vulcan Ambassador Sarek at a diplomatic circa 2326. She had asked for and was granted an interview with the ambassador, and the two met regularly during the following year. Sarek surprised her by opening up about his loneliness following the death of his wife, Amanda Grayson, and eventually asked her to share his life."
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The "He's poorly and doesn't want it disclosed" seems like it's missing a word. :) Commented Jan 12, 2015 at 2:05
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2@SeanDuggan Isn't that a common (if rather British) use of poorly though? Commented Jan 12, 2015 at 2:41
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1@muistooshort: Huh. Learn something new every day. I had never seen that used as an adjective, not an adverb. Commented Jan 12, 2015 at 5:48
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Sarek married Perrin cos once you go Terran you don't go back lol Seriously he married her because he loved her, he confessed as much via Picard in the episode 'Sarek'. Also according to Tuvok the Vulcan male libido increases with age perhaps only a Human can keep up with them lol. (Vulcans can have sex whenever they want not just every 7 years)
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Hi try adding some link "according to" .. according to what, where do you get your fact ?– RocketCommented Jan 12, 2015 at 17:13
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The Star Trek episode 'Sarek' is my fact, watch the scene where Picard is sitting in a room full of Sarek's emotions. Commented Jan 12, 2015 at 18:47
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Your the one giving the answer.. try adding a link in your answer.. your comment also remind me to tell you the visit the help center on how to post a good answer and also take the tour– RocketCommented Jan 12, 2015 at 18:50
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You want the link of the scene where Tuvok told a fellow officer that Vulcan libido increases with age, I believe its the same episode where he experienced Ponn Farr. Commented Jan 12, 2015 at 18:58
Did anyone ever think that he married another human because of Spock? That it would be easier on him that his stepmother was of Earth and therefore relate to him better? Geez people....
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1That's certainly an idea. Can you back it up with any actual evidence?– ValorumCommented Feb 28, 2018 at 0:30