The Awkward Love Triangle

The Awkward Love Triangle

- Makayla Dunlap

In almost every novel or movie, there is a love triangle. One person must love another, but another individual must then be inserted to complicate the situation. But- has the classic love triangle evolved at all? Although they are from significantly different time periods, the love triangle in Dracula (the film), Dead Until Dark, and Twilight does not change.

While the novel Dracula does not present a love triangle, the film makes it one. Jonathan loves Mina. Mina also loves Jonathan, but then Dracula inserts himself into the situation while Jonathan is away. Mina then slowly falls for Dracula, and in the end commits her life to him. This is again seen in Dead Until Dark between Sookie, Bill, and Sam. It is then AGAIN seen in Twilight. Only this time it is been Bella, Jacob, and Edward. You can also assume that the love triangle can be seen again and again. However, THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME.

Nothing is new. Each time it will always be three characters, and traditionally it will be two guys fighting over one girl. This classic set-up presents the girl as a prize to win. And, frankly, I am tired of this notion. In our society, we are constantly making strives to advance, but often times women are left behind. We are fighting, but are we evolving? It normally feels like we are taking one step forward and three steps back. The notion of the love triangle, I believe, is a huge loss for women. We aren’t allowed to make our own decisions and the choice to be alone is nonexistent. Generally, we have a lot of choice in who to love as humans, but how often does the woman in the triangle choose a member out of the triangle? Hint- she doesn’t.

So the next question is- what are we teaching the young members of our society? I believe we are telling them that they should wait for a knight in shining or maybe even two through the constant use of the love triangle. We are allowing them to play a passive role in their life, with the assumption that someone will someday come along and fix all of their problems. While this is primarily the case for females, I think the love triangle also teaches negative information to males as well. In all reality, they do not have to fight over women if they do not want. They also aren’t required to provide everything for their partner, because it should be an actual partnership.

So what do we now when so many pieces of literature and film already incorporate  the concept of the love triangle? I think the answer is to educate. Educate our females that they aren’t a trophy to be won, but a human being who has the ability to choose between countless options. Educate our men that they do not have to automatically find a wife or girlfriend. In addition to this, we need to educate men that they are also allowed to be human beings and can choose to love or be with whoever they want as well. While the idea of the love triangle has evolved very little over the decades, it is time that we evolve past it.