Editing Levirate marriage (section)

==In popular culture==
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Levirate marriages serve as a plot-element in various works of fiction:

* In [[William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare's]] iconic play [[Hamlet]], the titular character's paternal uncle; [[King Claudius|Claudius]], marries [[Gertrude (Hamlet)|his mother]], after the death of [[Ghost (Hamlet)|Hamlet's father.]] It is later revealed by the late king's ghost that Claudius murdered his brother, in order to seize the throne and marry his sister-in-law.

* The plot of [[Holy Matrimony (1994 film)|''Holy Matrimony'']] (1994) is based on a levirate marriage, but the real-life [[Hutterite]]s don't have such custom.
* In the TV series [[Deadwood (TV series)|''Deadwood'']], Seth Bullock is married to his brother's widow. This is a plot point used to mitigate guilt in the adulterous affair between Alma (another widow), and Seth (2005).<ref>[[List of Deadwood characters#Martha Bullock]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2018}} 
* In the [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] novel ''[[Arukattuthurai]]'' (2006), Aruldas, (younger brother of Samuel) marries his sister-in-law Samuthiravalli, nearly three years after Samuel goes missing.
* In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'', Lord [[Eddard Stark]] marries his brother Brandon's betrothed, [[Catelyn Tully]] after the death of Brandon.
* In [[Hell on Wheels (TV series)|''Hell on Wheels'']] (2011–2016),  it makes mention of Eva's late husband Gregory Toole having killed himself, his brother having tradition to marry her as his brother's widow.