First published on Tumblr 14 May 2023
Two words, but they, and the 10 seconds in season two in which they appear, have so much meaning for Kate and Anthony's story.
Setting the scene: These two words are said at the altar during Anthony's wedding to Edwina. Just as the Archbishop was saying Anthony's vows for him to repeat, Kate was fiddling with her bangle and it dropped to the floor. Anthony immediately knelt to pick up Kate's bangle, and as he did he said 'allow me' as he gently placed the bangle in Kate's hand. This was the moment that Edwina had her epiphany (we won't discuss that here, maybe in the future).
So let us look at the elements, and then discuss why I believe this scene, and these words, are so important for Kate and Anthony's story (separate to them stopping the wedding with Edwina).
The Bangles: Kate said to Edwina that the bangles belonged to her mother, she wore them on her wedding day. From my research I believe that these are Kangan bracelets that Kate is wearing. My understanding is that these bracelets form an important part of the wedding ceremony. The Aurus Jewels Website (aurusjewels.com) expands on this, stating "The Indian bracelet is largely connected to marriage and symbolizes matrimony in a similar way to how a Western wedding ring does. Hindu brides frequently combine their gold bangles with glass bangles. Red and green glass bangles are considered to be essential signs of marriage." These were the bracelets that Kate's mother had to symbolise her marriage. What is striking with the earlier scene where Kate offers them to Edwina to wear is that Edwina had never seen them before. For Kate these bangles represented her mother, and her parents, it was something that she had not shared before. When Edwina returns the bangles to Kate, saying that she doesn't want to feel like she is taking what is rightfully Kate's, it symbolises that Anthony, like the bangles, rightfully belongs with Kate.
The Altar: In christianity the altar is the focus of all services, and represents the presence of christ during the services. It is at the altar that sacred ceremonies take place within the christian church, of which the marriage ceremony is one such ceremony, the uniting of two people.
The Vows: Within the marriage ceremony the form it takes is that of the vows, in which each person makes a promise to the other in front of god.
Bringing these elements together, we have the basis of a sacred marriage ceremony that is part christian and part Hindu. So, what does this symbolise for Kate and Anthony, and how do the words Anthony says translate into a vow?
By saying 'Allow me' Anthony is asking Kate's permission to give her the bangle, Kate does not object, but she must understand the significance of him giving her the bangle at the altar. This represents their marriage ceremony, with the bangle taking the place of the giving of a ring. By asking permission to give her the bangle, and Kate silently granting it, Anthony is mimicking the giving of a ring at the altar during the marriage ceremony, especially as it comes after Anthony's part of the vows was said (though not by him).
Further, this gesture on Anthony's part is not lost on Edwina, what she is seeing is Anthony asking Kate if she will take a symbol of marriage, and Kate not objecting, for Edwina this would have seemed like Kate and Anthony's marriage ceremony.
So, whilst the words may appear to be unimportant, they are in essence the beginning of a promise made.
