The Love Triangle Trope has wiggled its way into the majority of the popular media our society likes to consume. I mean who doesn’t love a trope that has beaten the dead horse so much that it has to move on to other roadkill left in the road of keeping-force-feeding-people-the-same-shit-but-tell-them-its-going-to-be-different, you know, that really long road that cuts through the entire U.S.? We see this trope in literature, TV shows, Movies, and music like it’s supposed to be a reflection of romance in our society. Don’t get me wrong sometimes, love triangles do work out, sometimes all the characters are fully developed and aren’t possessive, abusive, or creepy; sometimes they aren’t inherently sexist, but let me tell you something, that is rare.
Let’s set the rest of this up by introducing three characters: A, B, and C. In a typical love triangle B and C are the same gender and A is the opposite, and B and C are madly and jealously in love with A.
"I love A" B said, emphatically, sensitive tears building up in his eyes.
"No I love A" C replied, his face remaining cold and impenetrable because he was B's opposite and they had nothing in common except a love for A.
"A is mine!"
"No, A is mine!"
"Can I say some--" A started but was interrupted when the other two got into a passionate brawl.
Now, as you can see there is something wrong with this triangle...because it doesn't have three sides so it isn't really a triangle now is it? It's actually a bent line and lines are never ending, people, just like this trope. But I have a solution.
1. The True Triangle
So if we were to complete this triangle what do you think would happen? Probably a whole lot of confusion because now all three them have feelings FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON! There obviously isn't a solution to this and one of them has to end up unhappy while the others have to secretly pine for third while they're together. Actually it is a lot simpler than that because there is this thing called Polyamory where three or more people are all in a romantic relationship together.
"I love A but..."
"No way, I love A too!"
"But I also love you."
"I love you too!"
"I love both of you as well!"
"Okay, how about the two of us date the first two days of the week, then--"
"Or we could all date at the same time!"
2. The True Triangle: Part Two
Let's say A is new in to the town/high school/university/workplace/circus and they are interested in two different people at this new place that they are interested but let's say A is conflicted because both the people A is interested in are actually dating each other and A doesn't want to break them up though it seems like both B and C are interested in A. Finally let's say B or C makes a move and A is all conflicted because A doesn't want to break the other persons heart and B or C is like "nah, bro, we both like you. Would you like to join both of us for dinner?"
3. Actually A Line (Not Bent This Time)
Let's say that polyamory isn't your cup of tea, that's okay, I mean that doesn't make a less real thing but if you don't know how to write it I totally get it. But here is another option for you that you can get at these low low prices (this actually doesn't cost you anything...I just wanted to say that.) How about a character A thinks B and C are interested in them but A just sees them both as friends and A feels terrible about letting either of them; however, B and C are only hovering around A because they like each other and are jealous of A. Hard to explain let me give it a shot.
"Do you like B?" C asked, leaning against the wall A was sitting next to.
A peered up at her, surprised by her sudden presence; her eyes were focused on her phone though they weren't moving over the screen.. He glanced back down at his book and then up at where B was sitting with her group of friends and twirling her hair. He let out a sigh and answered "No, why?" before returning to his book.
"Because I think she likes you. You should stay away from her."
"Why?"
"Because...she's dumb. I mean, look at her hair."
A bothered to glance up again, B was still playing with her hair and looking over a the two of them. "She's not dumb, B."
"You like her?"
"No, I just don't think she's dumb and I don't see how hair makes someone dumb. You have hair."
"I have hair but I don't flaunt it around and I don't use it to flirt. I mean, can't you just feel the heat coming off her. It's like she's the sun and she is just gracing us with her warmth and when she's gone we get cold and lonely...it's disgusting."
A didn't feel any heat but his fears were starting settle like slowly dripping paint inside his stomach. "Listen, I'm not interested in her or...or anyone else for that matter."
"Whatever, I don't care." C looked back at her phone but she kept looking up at B, her eyes squinting, her lips pursed, and her cheeks red. B continued to twirl her hair.
3. Actually A line: Part Two
Pretty much the same plot line but B and C are already secretly dating and A is just vain enough to think that B and C are fighting about A and likes to bask in their supposed fighting. A is really just delusional and probably needs someone to help them out.
4. Actually A Line: Part Three
A and C are dating but someone on the outside of their relationship, let's call them E, thinks that B is trying to steal A from C when in reality B and A are just good friends and C isn't the jealous type (AKA can recognize that people of different genders can be good friends).
5. The Hidden Angle
How about we have a book/movie/show with all the trappings of a stereotypical love triangle. B and C are desperately in love with A and they constantly fight over who A belongs to. Meanwhile A is completely oblivious to B and C and their fighting and has been dating D for the entire book/movie/show.
"Alright A, we're finally going to treat you like a human being and ask who you want to date, me or B."
"Actually, I'm dating D"
"Yeah, A and I have been dating for years now."
Really the possibilities are endless, these are just five examples of other things you could do as a writer to make your writing more developed and less like you copy and pasted a generic romantic plot and just changed the names and the setting.
