Welcome back to another edition of The Origin of Tropes! This month, we’re checking out the concept of “love at first sight.” This popular concept not only exists in the IRL but is also very common in Western media. The idea behind “love at first sight” is pretty much that: an instant, overpowering romantic attraction upon meeting. Whether that attraction is truly love is up for debate. To that end, it should be noted that people idealize this concept as much as they criticize it. This primer will explore the origins, cultural significance and reality of this trope.
Historical and Mythological Origins
When discussing “love at first sight,” we’re mainly looking to the West. For example, Greek mythology offers up some classics, like Cupid, the god of love, falling in love with Psyche with just one glance (even better, in this story, one is a god, and one is human). Cupid is so famous that even now, we use the expression “being struck by Cupid’s arrow.”
Latin American, African and far-Eastern mythology tends to portray love — even the romantic kind — through a broader context of balance, community and spiritual harmony. (That is not to say that people in these cultures don’t experience romantic love.) However, we can find examples of “love at first sight” in other non-Western myths. In the Bible, for example, is the story of Rebecca and Isaac. Similarly, in Hindu mythology, the gods Shiva and Parvati fall instantly in love, becoming a symbol of eternal devotion.
RELATED: 6 Doctor Who Episodes That Show the 11th Doctor’s Personality
All these stories go beyond entertainment: they convey moral and cultural values, showing societally normative love as predetermined.
“Love at First Sight” in Early Literature
Ancient literature, such as Sappho’s poetry, presents “love at first sight.” For example:
… Light were the work to make this plain to all, since she, who surpassed in beauty all mortality, Helen, once forsaking her lordly husband,
fled away to Troy — land across the water. Not the thought of child nor beloved parents was remembered, after the Queen of Cyprus won her at first sight …
There are also Egyptian love poems that portray instant connections as divine or destined, such as this love poem from the Middle Kingdom:
The earth trembled as you passed by, Turning everything sacred as you walked.
And you set your blue eyes upon me for the first time, speaking at me with the depth of the night
… like a nightingale who doesn’t need its wings to fly.
What a blessing it is to be worthy of your look.
I have seen rain on the desert,
and all impossible things coming true.
All of my prayers carry your name.
I wish to be pure so that I can desire you.
Take me as you will.
Your slave …
RELATED: 8 Anime Outros Too Good to Skip
These early literary examples show how long the idea of love at first sight has been essential to art. The tradition continued into Medieval and Renaissance literature. Chivalric romances like Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart (Chrétien de Troyes) depict love at first sight as noble and pure pursuits that were important to the traditions of courtly love.
Of course, later works like European fairy tales and the works of Shakespeare could be considered the epitome of this trope, with Romeo and Juliet being the prime example. The two young lovers’ insta-love is basically fate and tragedy, perhaps foretelling the love-hate relationship people have with this trope. (Or maybe just telling a good story.)
The Trope in Modernity
West Side Story, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is an excellent example of how this trope has thrived in the era of cinema and television. More recent examples that employ this trope to varying extents are How I Met Your Mother, when Ted (Josh Radnor) falls instantly in love with Robin (Cobie Smulders) upon meeting her; Stardust, where a man falls in love with a literal star as it falls from the sky; and the interactions between Kaylee (Jewel Staite) and Simon (Sean Maher) on Firefly. The trope is employed across many genres and media.
RELATED: 6 Best Body Swap Movies
The big difference between modern media and media of old is that stories today may or may not explore the idea with more nuance. They might criticize the concept or show how it can fall apart.
Is Love at First Sight Even Real?
Psychologists are more likely to attribute love at first sight to biology than fate. Studies suggest that instant attraction could be based on evolutionary cues that signal genetic compatibility. That said, many scientists aren’t even sure the concept is feasible. Love at first sight may be more like lust at first sight, meaning what we feel when we first meet someone is actually a powerful physical attraction.
Socialogically-speaking, the trope reflects our ideas about romance and partnership. Of course, these ideas vary widely across cultures and time periods, aspects of which the trope inflects.
Critical Reception
People who criticize love at first sight say it creates unrealistic expectations and even trivializes the development of more profound, more meaningful relations. And modern audiences may be more cynical and critical of the trope now. That said, it is a helpful shortcut.
RELATED: Read more from our Origin of Tropes series here!
All in all, love at first sight is a fascinating reflection of human desire and societal ideals. Its evolution from ancient myth to modern media highlights both the changes and constants in how we perceive love. These shifts will likely continue as we move further into this digital age.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/were-not-gay-we-just-love-each-other-trope-origin-buffy-sherlock-luca/
- Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: PRINCESS ZELDA - August 13, 2024
- Book Review: KEY LIME SKY - August 11, 2024
- Millennial Misremembers: BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY - August 6, 2024
