Y'all are better than me.
So to wrap this up, here's some of my favorite comments from Thursday. Starring: YOU.
Beth, this is such excellent discussion. I would add that the depth in Tristan and Isolde includes more than the love affair. Tristan and Mark are linked by blood, history and the desire to make their homeland stable. For Tristan to weaken Mark is to weaken his country. And Mark loves both Tristan and Isolde, so he is not only hurt by discovering their actions, he suffers for hurting two people he cares about. Isolde, too, is torn between loving one man with passion and the other with respect. So the story works because it is about more than passion, it's about real love and honor and what that means beyond the scope of their individual lives.
Okay, first of all, thanks to Deva for pointing me to this great discussion! I think the point made about everyone involved in the love triangle needing to be aware of the pain they will cause those they love is absolutely essential. There needs to be an emotional cost to their choices. Another thing that I think makes love triangles work is when the choice of who to love or end up with echoes the protagonist's own internal journey and mirrors the the two selves she is choosing between as she moves toward the end of the book. That's why I think the Dale/Peeta choice works so well--who Katniss ultimately chooses will reinforce or cement her internal decision on who she is going to be and what sort of world she lives in. A world where love is hard and often silent, or a world where love is front and center and costs much. The choice of who to love also reflects a fundamental decision on who she wants to be. If that makes any sense...
I don't usually weigh-in on this kind of thing, but I feel like I should. Jamie Harrington over at www.totallythebomb.com made a good point the other day about love triangles not really being triangles at all. But, really, I think the issue here, for both you and Jamie is that you like REAL love triangles, not the love-V's that we see sometimes. It's all in the depth of the story and the connections between characters. That's what makes a love triangle a triangle and not a point. Or a bow-tie (ask Jamie).
I'd say likable main characters for all three participants in the triangle -- otherwise you're rooting for one of them to lose out anyway, and that takes away all the tension and pain as a reader. I think that's one of the things that makes the "love triangle" so effective in fiction. I hate the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot triangle, but perhaps only because my first name is Guinevere, and that whole story ends in nothing but tears (and a nunnery for poor Queen Guinevere, in most traditional versions).
I think the key element is true love. Too often you see stories where it's a triangle of "You're hot. I want to get with you," against "Dude, she was totally with me first," paired with the reaction "Well, you're both really great guys, and I'm totally into you all being into me, and I just don't want to make up my mind." I love good love triangles, but there should be love in there or it's meaningless.
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I agree Beth. This is an excellent conversation going on over here. Way to go for starting it!
(I have nothing intelligent to add - just waving my cow bell)
don't forget the Trojan War- 20 years etc... and love started that mess
Excellent, intriguing posts on love triangles. I love all the commentary from your very smart followers!!
This has been a most interesting conversation. I'm glad there are some smart people out there who were able to contribute.
I'm a late jumping in on this, so I had to go back and read the past few posts. When it's weaved within the story it's awesome, but I agree with you that it feels forced in too many instances. Very interesting topic!
Wow, those are just fantastic comments! I've learned so much from this!
An idea for Part 4: rate that love triangle or top 10 love triangles.
You have such amazing participation for this series. :)
Shucks! Thank you. It was a stimulating discussion. I was most pleased to be part of it.
Aw, now I feel warm and fuzzy inside. :) This was such a great discussion, thanks for starting/carrying it, I learned so much from you and all the commenters. Like how to NEVER write a love triangle, and how to make sure the ones I do write are legitimate and enjoyable to read. Thank you so much!
Hey! You mentioned the love Bowtie! :)
I think it's a far more complicated, yet full of deceit and fun way to do things. :)
Good topic with great info and feedback. Thanks! :)
Beth--I've told more than one agent that all my stories are about love, and all the parts of love, including love triangles. Fascinating discussion.
thanks for the add and comment Beth, and for visiting my blog
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