What is love?

[timtofly]

Love is hard to express when the only point of reference is a material or physical one. Describing love with only the chemical properties, IMO gives us only 1 per cent of what love is. That is one reason, I griped that it was not a chemical high good or bad. It would seem to me that Love is what "writes" the chemical reaction in the brain, allowing us to remember it later. Not that the brain is the source of Love.

 

[Birdjaguar]

You said, "Love is a continuum of emotion." I am saying love is the constant in the continuum.

J

OK. If love is the constant across a continuum, then the points along the continuum each have filtering properties that reveal more, less, different, manifestations of the underlying love.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I agree passion can go with love, but the two can easily be separate. Passion fades. If there is not something quieter, then the relationship will not survive. There are even proverbs about it.

Consider Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare had to kill them, because the marriage would be a disaster.

J

Shakespeare killed them because the play was meant to be a tragedy, and Shakespearean tragedies always mean at least several of the main characters end up dead.

There are several sub-stories at work in Romeo and Juliet. Of course the one about immature teenage love/lust is one of them. But so is the morality play of two opposing sides that hate each other so much that they can't allow any intermingling or peace overtures, because it would be a perceived weakness or loss of pride. This is a common story thread, no matter if it's the traditional Romeo and Juliet, the musical adaptation West Side Story (two opposing street gangs, each of differing ethnicities), or even a "Hatfield & McCoy" type of Western.

This might be off-topic, but did they have anything in common? I haven't read it and I'm just curious.

They were immature teenagers who had limited ability to think ahead.

I emphasized the physical, not the passion.

Romeo and Juliet had almost nothing in common and their families are trying to kill each other. Romeo was several years older, an established party animal and skirt chaser. When they meet, he has been up for forever. One partying with his buddy Mercutio, the night pining for his last girlfriend and both days between. Juliet is barely old enough to be seen in public, yet she is the mature of the pair. Very focused.

J

I have to wonder... if Romeo had never come along, would Juliet have meekly married Count Paris, or would she have refused? Remember, she was only 14 years old. To us that makes her a child, but back then a 14-year-old female was considered old enough to marry and have babies.

 

[onejayhawk]

OK. If love is the constant across a continuum, then the points along the continuum each have filtering properties that reveal more, less, different, manifestations of the underlying love.

Simple things are profound. This is a perfect example.

J

 

[onejayhawk]

Shakespeare killed them because the play was meant to be a tragedy, and Shakespearean tragedies always mean at least several of the main characters end up dead.

There are several sub-stories at work in Romeo and Juliet. Of course the one about immature teenage love/lust is one of them. But so is the morality play of two opposing sides that hate each other so much that they can't allow any intermingling or peace overtures, because it would be a perceived weakness or loss of pride. This is a common story thread, no matter if it's the traditional Romeo and Juliet, the musical adaptation West Side Story (two opposing street gangs, each of differing ethnicities), or even a "Hatfield & McCoy" type of Western.

They were immature teenagers who had limited ability to think ahead.

I have to wonder... if Romeo had never come along, would Juliet have meekly married Count Paris, or would she have refused? Remember, she was only 14 years old. To us that makes her a child, but back then a 14-year-old female was considered old enough to marry and have babies.

Juliet was not an immature teenager, except physically. She was quite capable of thinking ahead. Whether she could have refused her arranged marriage is another question.

Shakespeare could have easily made the play a comedy, just by changing a few scenes, ie let Mercutio live, don't get Romeo banished, have a big love conquers all finale. The morality play still works. The play does not work as well as comedy. We cannot be allowed to think of them as married.

The Hatfields and McCoys had their star crossed pair. Many such historical feuds do. Many have been settled by a marriage. The irony of history is that the politically powerful Hatfields lost in court.

J

 

[Perfection]

 

[Terxpahseyton]

It is the longing of being part of something else / making this something else part of you.
examples: eating, showering, family, friends, sex, bond ship, a warm blanket on a winter evening, singing together, rave parties, sports, clubs
The list is long.
It is also a fantastic obsession.

For some it can be not eating dinner alone.

 

[Broken_Erika]

Love is an Patented Invention by Disney and Hallmark to sell merchandise in February.

 

[Lexicus]

Surely this is a question better asked of the gods than of OT?

 

[Broken_Erika]

Surely this is a question better asked of the gods than of OT?

Or of the Gods of OT!!!!!!

 

[Gori the Grey]

Well, it's nice that you think that I might have an answer to this question, Broken Erika, but alas, I'm as befuddled as anyone else on the site.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Surely this is a question better asked of the gods than of OT?

You're assuming there really are any.

 

[Lexicus]

You're assuming there really are any.

I know there are gods, otherwise why would I sacrifice a hecatomb every week?

 

[Broken_Erika]

Love is Yivo. And Yivo is Love.