The Four Loves: Difference between revisions

[[File:fourloves 2765.jpg|frame|[[The Bible|"...love is as strong as death..."]]]]

 

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,

 

{{quote|Love bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things,

 

[[The Power of Love|Love]] is arguably the most important value of all. Everyone needs to love and be loved in return. This trope applies when a character's main motivation is to love, be loved or both.

 

 

 

 

It is notable that the descriptions are rough categories of types of love and not exclusive to each other. That is, more than one can appear between the same people. For instance, if Alice meets Bob at a [[Sci Fi]] convention and they continue to get together to talk about sci-fi, then they have Phileo. If Alice and Bob in the process become each others' [[Love Interest]]s, they will also have Eros, but if they still get together to talk about sci-fi they still have Phileo. If they get married, [[Happily Married|live happily ever after]], [[Grow Old with Me|grow old together]] and like each others company simply because they are there, that is Storge. And if they make [[Heroic Sacrifice]]s for each other, that is Agape.

{{examples}}

== Storge ==

* Fate Testarossa from ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''. She just want to be loved by her dearest mother {{spoiler|who tortures her on regular basis because she hates how Fate (who is a clone) resembles her deceased daughter}}. She gets everything she wished, though: she gets a new family (the Harlaowns) and later [[Has Two Mommies|becomes one of Vivio's two mommies with Nanoha]]. People even call the three of them "the Takamachi family".

* Miyako Miyamura's goal in ''[[Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two.]]'' is this, ever since {{spoiler|her parents' messy divorce that had them ignoring her completely}}.

* Alois Trancy from ''[[Black Butler]]''. An evil variation. It gets so bad that eventually he doesn't care whether it's Claude, and sells his soul to Hannah instead because she was pretty much the first person since Luca to earnestly say "I love you".

* In ''[[One Piece]]'', the only bond second to [[The Power of Friendship]] is familial love, showcased earlier on in the case of [[Happily Adopted|Nami]]'s family. This goes into play more powerfully around the Whitebeard crew, who even refer to each other as family with one [[Badass Grandpa|badass]] [[A Father to His Men|father]]. {{spoiler|Tragically, this is what ultimately leads to Ace's arrest and death.}}

* This is the major motivation factor for the Jinnouichi family in ''[[Summer Wars]]'', whom despite being rather extensive are very close to each other and feel a strong mutual connection to their matriarch Sakae. Also later applies to Kenji, whom the Jinnouichi come to treat as "part of the family."

* [[Code Geass|CC]] once wanted nothing more then this trope. {{spoiler|So she got a geass power that forced everyone she met to fall in love with her and shower her with affection, wich was great...for a day or two.}} It's the reason why CC is now a cold hearted [[Broken Bird]].

* While Ennis from ''[[Baccano!]]'' understands love, she is unable to distinguish the difference between The Four Loves and thus straddles the line between [[Oblivious to Love]] and [[Asexuality]].

 

=== Comic Books ===

* ''[[Irredeemable]]'': This is the Plutonian's motivation for being a superhero after spending years in several foster homes with people who were afraid of him. Despite being a respected champion, he's so obsessed with the negative comments and constant demands people give him that it drives him over the edge.

 

 

=== Film ===

* In the animated film version of ''[[Coraline (animation)|Coraline]]'', the heroine is dissatisfied with her family, feeling that they don't care enough for her. This apparently invites the attention of a monster who wishes to have a child to possess and obsess over to the point that she drives them to death... as it has already done to three other children.

* <s> [[Hey, It's That Guy!|Qui Gon]]</s> [[Liam Neeson|Bryan Mills]]' daughter is abducted and sold into sexual slavery while on vacation in France in ''[[Taken (film)|Taken]]''. Bryan heads to France, finds the slavers, kicks France's butt halfway across Europe, and gets his daughter back.

 

=== Literature ===

* [[Harry Potter]] feels this way towards the Weasley family (excepting {{spoiler|Ginny}}) as well as Hermione.

 

* ''[[Blue Bloods]]'', because the family that arrests together stays together.

* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'': Buffy was willing to let the world burn to save her little sister, Dawn. They have a very good relationship throughout much of the series.

* Merlin and Prince Arthur are thrown together against their will in the first episode of ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'', but since then their close proximity and reliance on each other means that they're now practically joined at the hip.

** The same could be said for the intertwining relationships between Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table. Merlin also shares this kind of relationship with Gaius, and Uther believes this is what his relationship with Morgana is like.

 

=== Theatre ===

* Chrysothemis in Richard Strauss' opera ''Elektra'' does not share her sister Elektra's thirst for revenge, and just wants to be a simple wife and mother—and this wish is what sustains Chrysothemis in her dark, fearful time as a prisoner. (Note: This is not her characterisation in the original Sophocles play.)

 

== Phileo ==

* Take your pick at this with practically ''any'' good character in ''[[One Piece]]''.

* Any of the Shibusen partners in ''[[Soul Eater]]''—not only toward their partners, but toward one another.

 

=== Literature ===

* Danny and Reuven in ''[[The Chosen]]''

* The "four horsemen" in ''[[1632]]''.

* Yashim and Palewski in the [[Yashim Series]].

* Ivan Vorputril and Miles Vorkosigan.

 

* Jon Lovitz of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' did an impression of Harvey Fierstein, the playwright of ''[[Torch Song Trilogy]]''. The parody version of Fierstein had a variant of this as his [[Catch Phrase]]. "I just want to be loved. Is that so wrong?"

* Kirk, Spock, and McCoy in ''[[Star Trek]]''.

* From ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'', Prince Arthur and Knights of the Round Table, all of whom are dedicated to the safety and well-being of Camelot. Merlin and Guinevere are [[Platonic Life Partners]] due to being [[Birds of a Feather]] and their mutual devotion to Arthur.

* ''[[Skins]]'' loves this, and some particularly strong forms of it can be seen with Tony and Sid, and with Freddie and Cook - the latter of whom probably said "I love you" to each other more than they did to their actual mutual love interest, Effy.

 

=== Video Games ===

* At the climax of ''[[Time Splitters]] Future Perfect'', {{spoiler|[[Robot Buddy]] R-110 is fatally wounded by the [[Big Bad]] and in his last moments he laments, "I only wanted to be loved..." This runs contrary to his [[Ax Crazy|recent]] [[Cloudcuckoolander|activities]] throughout the last act}}.

* Friendship and [[The Power of Friendship]] is what the ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' series is all about.

 

=== Western Animation ===

 

== Eros ==

* In ''[[Dragonball Z]]'', this is a big desire for Krillin, who ends up dating a very dumb girl called Maron. Fortunately, he finds love in the series' redeemed villain Android 18.

* Sayaka from ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'' can be said to have this for Kyousuke.

* In ''[[Berserk]]'', Casca reached the realization that her place was in Guts' heart, so that not only she could love him, but for Guts to love her as well. [[They Do|And the feeling is mutual.]]

 

=== Comic Books ===

 

=== Literature ===

* In ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'', Bella Swan's main wish is to be loved by Edward Cullen.

** The same goes for Jacob, but about Bella.

* [[Ayn Rand]], in her novel ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', [[Deconstructed Trope|deconstructs the trope]] as well as [[Gender Flip|gender-flips]] it via the character of James Taggart. James wants to be loved, but not for anything he actually does. Rather, he wants to be loved for himself. Not for the benefits he might bring into the life of the person that loves him. Not for any of his virtues or good qualities. He says that he wants to be loved for himself. Ultimately, what he truly wants is to be loved ''for absolutely no reason at all''; i.e., [[Strawman Political|loved despite his own worthlessness]].

 

* Phoebe of ''[[Charmed]]'' made it her personal mission to find love during the last few seasons. In the end, she got a Cupid. Yay?

* Sheridan and Delenn in ''[[Babylon 5]]''.

* ''[[Merlin]]'' sets this up for the inevitable and infamous [[Love Triangle]], Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot.

** Also present with Merlin/Freya, Gaius/Alice and Isolde/Tristan.

 

=== Music ===

* [[Queen]]'s "Somebody to Love"

* Arguably the reason why there are so many love songs in the first place.

 

=== Video Games ===

* Squall from ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' without really knowing it at first.

* ''[[Gaia Online]]'''s "Sainte Ciel" Evolving Item told the story of a nun trying to rescue the princess she loved from an evil demon. You could choose between Eros and Agape routes; if you chose Eros, Ciel would [[More Than Mind Control|succumb to the demon Mephiste's temptations]].

 

=== Western Animation ===

* On ''[[Family Guy]]'', Meg Griffin is treated horribly by her family and most of Quahog for her [[Informed Attribute|supposed]] [[Informed Deformity|ugliness]]. She is desperate for affection to the point of mental instability. One cutaway gag shows her 'dating' a corpse. In another episode, Meg accepts a pity date from Brian, her family's talking dog, and becomes obsessed with him [[Because You Were Nice to Me|after he insults another girl in her defense and kisses her while drunk]].

 

== Agape ==

* In ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', [[White-Haired Pretty Boy|Kaworu Nagisa]] {{spoiler|sacrificed himself in order to ensure Shinji's survival and that of humanity at large}}, despite the fact that Kaworu could have easily {{spoiler|destroyed all mankind in a third impact for his kind to reign supreme}}. For his selfless love, Shinji (who was in desperate need of this kind of love) was {{spoiler|heartbroken when he had to kill his friend}}.

** While it is still hotly debated whether Rei Ayanami's feelings for Shinji are romantic or not, there is no doubt in the fact that they are movingly unconditional, perhaps making her the only person besides the afore mentioned Kaworu to care for him without expecting anything in return, to the point of doing a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] for his sake... twice. This is turned [[Up to Eleven]] in [[Rebuild of Evangelion|Rebuild]], where he leaves town because of his personal anger at his father, cutting all ties to Rei to reasons unrelated to her, without as much as a goodbye... and Rei is still willing to blow herself up just so he never has to pilot his Mecha ever again...

** Maka sits down and gives up in the ''middle of a fight'' in the Sloth chapter of the Book of Eibon. When she finally breaks the hold the book has over her, Soul doesn't even let her apologize, but spends the rest of the arc either [[Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other|holding her or holding her hand]].

** Kid {{spoiler|nearly destroys the world with the Madness of Order}}, only to have Black*Star, whom often tries to beat him up ''for no apparent reason'', go and get him.

 

* ''[[iCarly]]'': Freddie towards Carly, who seems to love Carly unconditionally no matter where their relationship lies with regards to Phileo and Eros. He has proven his ability to self-sacrifice for her, being almost killed in order to save Carly from being killed herself by pushing her out of the way of a truck in one episode.

* Lancelot embodies this love on ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'' in regards to his love for Guinevere and Merlin (and to a lesser extent, Arthur). When a tear in the veil between the worlds results in evil spirits roaming the land, Arthur makes the decision to offer himself up as a blood sacrifice to close the rift. Knowing that Merlin intends to take Arthur's place, and having made a vow to Guinevere to protect Arthur with his life, Lancelot steps up and sacrifices himself for both of them, simultaneously saving Merlin's life and preserving Arthur's relationship with Guinevere.

* In the BBC's modern reinterpretation of [[Sherlock]] Holmes, Sherlock and John (i.e. Dr. Watson) go from being complete strangers to living together, and {{spoiler|John is willing to kill to save Sherlock's life}}, in the space of the first episode. Although many (hell, ''most'') of their mutual acquaintances interpret this as romantic interest ({{spoiler|Mycroft's teasing, "Should we be expecting a happy announcement...? }}), John's and Sherlock's relationship is closer to agape, even if most of the "sacrifice" is performed by John, while Sherlock seems more detached. Most notably, in the final episode of the 2010 season, "The Great Game", {{spoiler|John, covered in explosives, wraps himself around the man threatening Sherlock, intending to bring down their enemy at the expense of his own life.}} In the climax of the second series, though, Sherlock more than returns the favour as he {{spoiler|fakes his own death by no less than jumping from a building to save John's life, which could as far as we know also accidentially ended up being a real sacrifice. The whole issue again is orchastrated by the [[Big Bad]] who gives Sherlock the choice to either jump or have John and his two other most important people killed.}}

 

=== Religion ===

** This kind of love is referenced in John 3:16:

{{quote|[[Crowning Moment of Awesome|For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life]].}}

 

=== Video Games ===

** Though tragically enough, it's his inability to function without having someone fill the position in each of the loves (his desperate desire to be loved and needed by people) that eventually creates the instability needed for him to be the [[Big Bad]] of [[Yggdra Union]] (well, for a certain [[Gray and Gray Morality|definition of bad]] anyways)

* In ''[[Radiant Historia]]'', [[The Hero]] believes this separates himself from the [[Big Bad]].

 

=== Real Life ===

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Romance Novel Tropes]]

[[Category:Fanfic Tropes]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Four Loves, The}}