one of the reasons ive liked purim , aside from shalach manos and hamantashen is because a woman is a central part of the story of purim. now that i think about it intermarriage was a part of the purim story. after all achashverosh did not convert to judaism. then again, marrying a gentile is not one of the three cardinal sins in judaism- killing, idolatry or adultery so i guess to save the jewish people its ok to marry a goy. the funny thing is as many times as i have studied the story of purim i never remember discussing the intermarriage component. if it was discussed it must not have been much because i have zero recollection of such a discussion. i am surprised that the less ritualistic branches of judaism haven't had a field day with this one. then again maybe they have but because im frum i haven't heard them do this.
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It was Achashverosh, not Antiochus, the the reason it was ok for Esther was because she was forced and didn't have a choice. According to the gemara she was married to Mordechai and still had relations with him until the time that Esther went and invited Achashverosh and Haman to the 1st party. That was when she had relations with Achashverosh willingly for the 1st time and became asur to Mordechai.
well this is true. she was forced to marry achashverosh against her will
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