""Love at first sight" in English Literature : How is it Important in English Literature?

 Introduction

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861)

British poet.

Sonnets from the Portuguese, No. 43

What is Love?

Love is an emotion explored in philosophy, religion, and literature, often as either romantic love, the fraternal love of others, or the love of God. Truly it is a complex and multi-faceted concept that can be explored from various angles. Here is the descriptions that can be engrossing.

" I am he You are she I am song You are verse I am heaven You are Earth We two shall here together dwell becoming parents of children" AV.15.2.71, Translated by Remando Panikker.(Love in Atharvaveda)

Love is an eternal bonds between two souls with the urge of creativity. Vedic text elaborates that points several times. In fact, Love as an emotion outbursts through through various means. There is romantic love, fraternal love of others or even love of God. It is the source of family bond and from there love ensues. We all recognize the family as the fundamental source of love. Even though there is heart sign in love, its a pure mental health condition. To love is a capacity to love as a measure of mental health which earn motivation. It is love which is also required among other human needs.

Evaluating Love and building its parameters is our philosophical urge. As there is Pre-Christian Credos of Love like Essenes, Mithraism and Stoicism, Christian Love elaborates the Love of God and Love of self and others. Particularly Epistles of John forms the basics of Christianity: Central Teachings. Existentialism and Lutheranism elaborates it farther. We have Platonic Love, Mythological and Religious Aspects of Love. So many legend stories are there of Narcissus, Cupid, Eros, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar. Excessive Self-Love is presented through the story of The Fall of Adam and Eve in Religion or Mythological incarnation of obsessive self-love in Narcissus. We also meet Rejection of Romantic Love in Hippolytus, Pygmalion or Arthur Schopenhauer.

Poets and authors have different Creative Forms for Expressing Love. There is Elegy, Courtly Poetry, Popular Music, Romance, Song or Sonnet.

What is "love at first sight"?

"Love at first sight" is a term used to describe the feeling of falling in love with someone the first time you see them. It is purely romantic love. In literature and cinema, it is frequently described as an instantaneous and powerful attraction to someone based only on their physical appearance or aura. However, it is necessary to highlight that this phenomena is widely regarded as a romanticized idea, with little scientific data to back it up.

How is it important in literature studies?

The notion of "love at first sight" is frequently employed as a literary device in literature studies to create a sense of immediate connection and romance between characters. It is a frequent cliché in romantic literature, appearing in several plays, books, and poems throughout history. The concept of love at first sight may add suspense and drama to a tale by creating conflict and difficulties for the characters to overcome in order for them to be together.

Furthermore, the concept of "love at first sight" may be used to investigate subjects such as the nature of love, the function of physical attraction, and the concept of fate or destiny in relationships. It may also be seen as a critique of cultural conventions and expectations around love and relationships.

The notion of "love at first sight" is essential in literary analysis because it allows readers to study how authors utilise it to generate meaning and express themes in their works. It is also necessary to comprehend the historical and cultural context in which a piece of literature was composed.

Some beautiful examples from English literature

There are many examples of "love at first sight" in English literature.

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare: The play is perhaps the most famous example of "love at first sight" in literature. Romeo and Juliet fall in love instantly upon seeing each other for the first time at a ball. Shakespeare's emotional drama of these "star-cross'd lovers," one of the most renowned love stories in all literature, is known for the lyrical beauty of many of its monologues. We can't miss so many love pairs in William Shakespeare's "AS You Like It" either.

"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte: Wuthering Heights is a story of passionate love, in which irreconcilable principles of energy and calm are ultimately harmonized. Here, Heathcliff and Catherine's relationship is a classic example of "love at first sight". They meet as children and are instantly drawn to each other, despite the fact that they come from different social classes.

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester fall in love at first sight, despite the fact that they come from very different backgrounds and have very different personalities.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship begins with a strong dislike for each other, but they soon realize that it was love at first sight when they meet again.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Gatsby and Daisy's relationship begins with a love at first sight moment and their love story is a major part of the novel.

"The Lady of the Lake" by Sir Walter Scott: The story revolves around a knight named Fitz James who falls in love with a mysterious lady he sees at a distance in a lake and goes on a quest to find her.Ellen Douglas

"Persuasion" by Jane Austen: The main character Anne Elliot falls in love with Captain Wentworth at first sight, but due to societal pressure and persuasion from others, she breaks off their engagement. Years later, they meet again, and the novel follows their second chance at love.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde: Dorian Gray is infatuated with Sibyl Vane, an actress, at first sight and his desire for her leads to his tragic downfall.

"The Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough: Ralph de Bricassart, a Catholic priest, falls in love with Meggie at first sight, despite the fact that she is a married woman. Their love story spans decades and is a major focus of the novel.

"The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks: Noah and Allie fall in love at first sight while they are on a summer vacation in a small town. Their love story spans over many years and is told through a series of flashbacks.

These examples show how the concept of "love at first sight" has been used in a variety of genres, from classic literature to contemporary romance novels. The trope is versatile and can be used to explore a range of themes and emotions. Many other authors have used this trope in their works, and it continues to be a popular theme in contemporary literature as well.

Classic examples from classical text

"The Epic of Gilgamesh": The ancient Sumerian epic poem tells the story of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, who falls in love with Enkidu, a wild man, at first sight. Their friendship and journey together forms a major part of the story.

"The Aeneid" by Virgil: The Trojan prince Aeneas falls in love with the queen of Carthage, Dido, at first sight. Their love story is a significant part of the poem and ultimately leads to Dido's tragic end.

"The Odyssey" by Homer: The goddess Aphrodite makes the princess Nausicaa fall in love with Odysseus at first sight, when he is shipwrecked on her island and she helps him.

"Metamorphoses" by Ovid: The poem includes many stories of love at first sight, including the story of Narcissus, who falls in love with his own reflection, and the story of Pygmalion, who falls in love with a statue he has carved.

"The Ramayana" by Valmiki: The prince Rama and the princess Sita falls in love at first sight, their love story is one of the major plot points of the epic and is considered one of the greatest love stories of all time in Indian mythology.

"The Mahabharata": The story of Arjuna and Subhadra, who fall in love at first sight and elope together, despite the fact that she is the sister of his enemies.

The Puranas: In the story of Radha and Krishna from Bhagavata Purana, Radha, a cowherd girl, falls in love with Krishna at first sight and their love story is considered an ultimate example of devotion and love in Hinduism.

The Shiva Purana: The story of Parvati and Shiva, where Parvati, the daughter of the king of the mountains, falls in love with Shiva at first sight and their love story is considered one of the most important love stories in Shaivism.

The Devi Bhagavatam: The story of Sati and Shiva, where Sati, the daughter of the king Daksha, falls in love with Shiva at first sight, is considered an important one in Shaktism.

These stories from Greek or Indian mythology demonstrate how the concept of "love at first sight" has been used in ancient Indian literature to explore themes such as devotion, sacrifice, and the power of love. These myths have been passed down through generations and continue to be an important part of Greek or Indian culture and tradition.

Conclusion

The concept of "love at first sight" is versatile and can be found in many different genres of literature, from classic literature to contemporary romance novels. It allows readers to examine how authors use it to create meaning and convey themes in their works, as well as understand the historical and cultural context in which a work of literature was written.

Ardhendu De

References:

1. L. (2012, November 6). Science Explains Instant Attraction. In livescience.com. https://www.livescience.com/24593-brain-love-dating-decisions.html

2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1590847.stm. (n.d.). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1590847.stm

3. Love at First Sight by Wislawa Szymborska - Poems | Academy of American Poets. (n.d.). In Love at First Sight by Wislawa Szymborska - Poems | Academy of American Poets. https://poets.org/poem/love-first-sight

4. Love in Atharvaveda | Silk Routes. (n.d.). Love in Atharvaveda | Silk Routes. https://iwp.uiowa.edu/silkroutes/city/kerala/text/love-atharvaveda#:~:text=Thus%2C%20the%20Vedic%20people%20developed,and%20even%20jealousy%20and%20domination.