The Troubling Allure of Literary Relationships

By Sampurna Chakraborty

2nd Year, BA English Honours

"I am no pilot; yet wert thou as far as that vast shore washed with the farthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise". (Romeo and Juliet, Act2, Scene2)

For a heart like mine that swoons over mushy romances, books have forever been my escape from the daunting reality into a land of enchanting fictional amour.

From Romeo Juliet’s eternal love to Rochester and Jane’s spiritual bond, the realm of literature has been said to set standards of love that has been celebrated by readers all over the globe. However, if you try to dissect these relationships, (I suggest you don't, why ruin it when it can keep feeding your delusions 😉) certain aspects of it have been quite problematic.

Take Odysseus and Penelope's apparent steadfast loyalty for instance. When Odysseus was away for 20 years striving to return home to his wife, his chaste wife Penelope was pining for him, fending off all the suitors! A perfect trope for epitomising complete devotion in love. But if you read a little more about it you'll realize that while Penelope, a doting wife, yearns for her husband, Odysseus engages in numerous infidelities to achieve his goal. Does this not make you think about the inherent double standards of Greek society, the uneven power dynamics in their relationship?

How about we discuss Romeo and Juliet, upheld as the romantic ideal. What can be problematic about their relationship?! Dying for love, fighting with the world just to be united, isn't that what love is all about? But I hate to break it to you, NO, that's not it. The lovers concerned are teenagers. Killing yourself after six days of thwarted infatuation, risking family name, reputation and life is just nonsensical. Their actions are more reckless than romantic.

In Jane Eyre too, Rochester seems to be blindly in love with Jane. But again what is ostensibly so romantic, is in reality a lot harsher. Rochester is rude, manipulative, he conveniently lies about his marriage with Bertha and when Jane discovers the secret, he divulges the truth about his bigamy under the pretext of having a mad wife! And let's not forget how he leads Miss Ingram on just to make Jane jealous. If this isn't being a red flag, what is!

Even contemporary literature has more often than not hidden toxic masculinity, controversial tropes behind romantic facades. As we continue reading love stories that make us giddy and smile from ear to ear, let's not forget to critique these debatable elements instead of blindly romanticising them.