literature
Fictional Characters that Ruined Our Dating Expectations You’ve probably fallen in love with many characters over the years, but how have they been affecting your dating life? Our contributors discuss which fictional characters made their dating expectations so high, and why non-fictional people just don’t compare.
Connell Waldron - Normal People words by: Francesca Ionescu
Reading Normal People, you feel a strange familiarity. The book focuses on two Irish teens who are constantly pulled to each other, with intertwined lives growing up. Marianne and Connell are one of the most heartbreaking love stories, as Sally Rooney’s way of writing turns the characters into ‘normal’ relatable people. They make a lot of mistakes because they’re young and troubled, and that feels real. When the BBC adaptation of the novel came out, a lot of people became infatuated with Connell. There are a lot of things that make the character attractive; his chain, his aloofness and the way he genuinely grows over the years. But, I believe Connell’s charm comes from how real he feels. Reading his dialogue feels like hearing a friend talk over tea, or a stranger chat at a party. The feeling that this character exists outside the fictional world, with both his good side and flaws, truly raises your expectations for the people you let into your life.
Mr Darcy - Pride and Prejudice words by: Hanna Pluck
Mr. Darcy was the first man in literature to mess up what I expected from romance. Representing “pride” in the title, he arrogantly flaunts his title and wealth over the poorer and less respectable Bennet family until, woe betide, he falls in love with protagonist Elizabeth. He provides a force for Lizzie to fight against as she matures, realising her own flaws and the lies that live at the centre of her romantic ideals. In the novel, Darcy is not only dreamy, he’s revolutionary. His function is to reward Lizzie’s determination to prioritise her happiness in an age where women were all but objects owned by their fathers or husbands. Darcy bends to Lizzie’s wishes, not the other way around, and in a novel where Lizzie has to seriously consider marrying the odious Mr. Collins for the good of her family, the depth of Darcy’s gestures are breathtaking. Darcy has ruined mediocre romances for me. How am I meant to know if a guy likes me if he doesn’t save my sister from certain disgrace? Yes, he’s got a car, but can I go hunting in his forests? Maybe he thinks I’m cute, but does he yearn for me? Does he struggle to admit to the strength of his feelings
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