What is a love story? Is it one of the sappy, romantic tales told to children? How does one portray a love story? Should it be simple, straight forward, or integrated with other conflicting emotions and tragic woes? Authors Washington Irving, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson, James Fenimore Cooper, and Edgar Allan Poe incorporate love in very distinct ways; yet, none of these authors write about the form of love found in fairy tales. The love integrated in the works must be searched for, as they are hidden behind tragedy, pain, and melancholy.
Most of the characters created by these authors are somber rather than overly joyful. The weight of the world has weighed their shoulders down, along with their hopes and aspirations. Their view of the world is bleak. One of the happiest characters created by these authors is Geoffrey Crayon. Geoffrey, brought to life by Irving, narrates the collection of stories as he recants his tales of travel. Though Geoffrey faces may toils that everyday people would face if they were in his position, he still is relatively cheerful through it all. He witnesses his friends, such as Leslie, undergo tremendous loss; however, his spirits are still high, as his friends still remain positive. Love is introduced in subtle ways, such as when Mary sticks by Leslie’s side through all his loss, because her love in him is stronger than the struggles they are coming across. All the characters are positive, though Geoffrey is the most uplifting character. Yet he is one of the most isolated characters created. How could a man, who is completely isolated, be a part of a love story? A love story must be between two individuals, mustn’t it?
Ralph Waldo Emerson writes "Nature and Selected Essays" to highlight an ideology later known as transcendentalism. Throughout the essays Emerson includes the notion that one can enhance his or her spiritual awareness of divine power by immersing oneself in nature, isolated. Only when a person is alone can he or she clearly witness how our “creator” carefully constructed the functions of nature, when he or she is taken away from trivial needs such as money and power. Like Irving, Emerson emphasizes isolation. Love for a higher power is found in the novel as Emerson expresses his love for the beauty and complexity of nature; however, this cannot be a love story due to isolation, right?
Emily Dickinson, too, incorporates solitude into her work. She spent many days on her own, only having the interior of her home as her surroundings. Many of her poems incorporate occurrences that can be found inside the home, such as a spider spinning a web. She incorporates her inner turmoil into her work. Her tone is bittersweet, as she focuses on the beauty of what she witnesses, but creates a somber tone. How could a love story exist, when no obvious forms of affection are incorporated in her work?
James Cooper writes in a very different manner than the first three authors mentioned. His novel, "The Last of the Mohicans," takes place during the mid-1700’s during the French and Indian War, when France and England were battling over the American colonies. Cooper recounts in vivid detail the massacre of English soldiers by Huron Indians, painting the Indians as savage creatures. Unlike the first three authors, Cooper doesn’t write about isolationism. His focus of the novel is on violence, pain, and turmoil. The visual imagery depicts a blood bath, an absolutely harrowing sight. How could a love story be interwoven into such an awful scene?
Edgar Allan Poe’s "Selected Tales" incorporates both solitude and violence to an extent. For instance, in "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator has a mental disorder, possibly a Sensory Processing Disorder, that drives him to take the life of an old man. This act of violence is an extreme one; yet, readers find themselves sympathizing with the narrator, as it’s clear that he is not in a rational state of mind. His mental illness is taking control of him, causing him to make bad choices. He simply wants silence. He wants the man’s eye to go away. While this does not signify complete isolation, it does tie into the theme of finding relief in loneliness.
How could these works possess love stories? How could a love story exist, when a theme of isolation and/or violence spawning from hatred is so prevalent?
These authors create the works with many overarching themes. Though some themes are easy to spot, such as isolationism and violence, there are other themes and concepts found beneath the plot line. The prevailing question is as follows: What is a love story?
A love story is as simple as the name; it’s a tale in which compassion for others is expressed. In Washington Irving’s "The Sketch-Book," a clear display of love is found between Leslie and Mary, as they are husband and wife. The strength behind their love story is found in their resilience; Mary stays by Leslie’s side throughout the loss. However, that is not the only love story found in the collection of essays. Geoffrey’s passion to travel, his love for his surroundings -- the places, people, sights -- is itself a love story. He sheds compassion for both the people and environment found in his life. Emerson writes with great appreciation for nature and a higher power. He adores the complex nuances he witnesses and has a great abundance of adoration for a deity and the spirituality found on earth. Emily Dickinson incorporates the simple occurrences that usually go unnoticed. While her setting of her work does not extend farther than what she would witness in her home, her admiration of the little things shows through her work. While writing about a spider spinning a web may seem tedious or uninteresting, the manner in which Dickinson writes draws readers in, as she shares her eagerness. She analyzes every easily overlooked act or object, and showcases her appreciation for it. While no individual or high power is included, her love for the small occurrences is in itself a love story, as she is expressing compassion. Cooper creates intense violence in his work, but love stories can still be found. In "The Last of the Mohicans," in one particular scene, a mother witnesses the death of her child. Her baby, who moments prior had been nestled in her bosom, suffered an unimaginable and horrific death. Then, soon after, the mother passed. This tragedy can be overshadowed by the violence, but love is still there. The bond between the mother and child carried on after death, as both their bodies lay together on the ground.
Edgar Allan Poe writes from a darker perspective. Many regard love as a positive emotion, when in actuality perspectives of love and thus love stories can variate. The love Poe writes is a selfish love. For instance, in "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator finds joy in the fear and eventual demise of the old man. He finds peace in his violent act. While he does not share love for another individual, his surroundings, or a higher power, he shares love with the acts he performs to bring him selfish joy. Poe reveals the complexity of both love and hate, and treats them as foil characters. Though seemingly opposite emotions, when incorporated together they showcase similarities. Thus, a relationship between the two forms. A love story of sorts.
Washington Irving, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson, James Fenimore Cooper, and Edgar Allan Poe incorporate pain and loss into their works. Every character undergoes turmoil of somesort. However, underneath the pain, love shows through in distinct ways. Though love is displayed in different ways, it is still there. Characters and narrators express their compassions, thus love stories are told.
