As dictionaries have been adding new words and revising definitions yearly, we have seen a transition in the definition of love. Today, a commonly accepted definition of love is “an amorous episode” (Webster). This concept of love began with its portrayal in Hollywood media, causing the history and true meaning of the word to become lost. While love used to be defined as the “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties,” or “affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests” (Webster), the most recent definition is most similar to what it seems Hollywood is portraying as infatuation. This can be defined as “an extravagantly foolish or unreasoning passion” (Oxford). What movies often portray as “love” is, in fact, this infatuation that causes us to believe that when you are in love, you tend to love the act of being in love, not the other person. Mainstream media does not differentiate between love and infatuation; it simply sells a conflation of concepts into the term “love.”
Love, in the terms of husband and wife, can be traced back to the beginning of the Bible:
Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Gen. 2.22-24.).
Furthermore, they serve one another in a loyal commitment to each other. Love began as a mutual feeling with genuine intentions as the two people work together to please and assist one another with care. Love continued from Adam and Eve into Medieval Times, and this notion of love as ...
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This conception of love can be traced back to the first chapters of the Bible, Genesis. Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden, eat the forbidden fruit and are forever outcast from paradise, forced to suffer. The puritans argued that, if God wishes us to suffer, who are we to go against his wishes. We are sinners, because of the Original Sin, and it was Eve who gav...
...en an owner and its pet, a couple, and family. In the movie, Marley & Me, love was shown in a different manner, but it was a strong bond of love that no one could break. The main character developed love that was so strong for Marley that was unimaginable. Likewise, love is defined between a man and a woman in the novel, Safe Haven. The novel was able to depict love in such appealing way to convince the readers that love can create happiness. Another depiction of love was in the movie, Fireproof. Love between a families. The director of the movie was able to portray love as a strong feeling based on actions. He was also able to show that families do go through many tribulations and hardships, but will always love and care for each other. Overall, love can be represented in so many different manners; it depends on the actions that one has to go through represent it.
It has always been part of human nature to form a bond with another person. These bonds may be as trivial as friendship or as strong as love. Love is very complex; it takes a lot of effort and insight to form love with another person. As complicated as love is, why people form these bonds is even more complicated. There is the more biological reasoning, supported by Barbara Fredrickson in “Love 2.0”, that says people need it to survive. As seen in Susan Faludi’s “The Naked Citadel”, love can also be formed to either replace an old love or guide one or both people. Continually, in Sherry Turkle’s “Alone Together”, people form bonds of love because they love what they nurture. Since love is ingrained in human nature, there is often little choice
Throughout history, views of love have changed. Anne Bradstreet valued love as a strong romantic bond. In Bradstreet's poem, "To My Dear and Loving Husband" she writes, "I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the ritches that Earth doth hold"(51). In this excerpt, Bradstreet is speaking to her Husband. John Winthrop viewed love as a religious bond between all men. He writes, "Love is the bond of perfection" (39). Winthrop gives few references to romantic love. I personally think of love as something that people feel for each other just because they are both people. I believe there is an element of love between all people. Love is viewed differently by different people, but these beliefs have little to do with what time period these people lived in.
The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer around 1386, is a collection of tale told by pilgrims on a religious pilgrimage. Two of these tales, "The Knight's Tale" and "The Wife of Bath's Tale", involve different kinds of love and different love relationships. Some of the loves are based on nobility, some are forced, and some are based on mutual respect for each partner. My idea of love is one that combines aspects from each of the tales told in The Canterbury Tales.
Love by definition is an emotion explored in philosophy, religion, and literature, often as either romantic love, the fraternal love of others, or the love of God based on the definition found in The Encarta Encyclopedia. As I explored the definition by means of the Internet, books, and articles I noticed the definitions changed quite a bit, but yet had the same basic understanding. The definition I found in The Encarta Encyclopedia was probably the most simple and most basic. It refers to love in the whole aspect, which is Godly, fraternal, and romantic. All in which can only be defined by one word and that it love.
Love – a simple four letter word shrouded in mystery and many different meanings. Philosophers, poets, and writers have all tried to discern the significance or concept of love for many centuries. Plato, for example, was one such philosopher who in his work the Symposium (which means “Drinking Party”) wrote about “Eros” – the term for sexual love in Greek. The Symposium was written approximately around 384 and 379 B.C.E., and follows five elite Athenian men as they pronounce their admiration of Eros while lounging on couches listening to flute girls play in the distance. Each of the men has different backgrounds ranging from tragic poet, comedian, doctor, playboy, and even Socrates himself (Norton). All these characters bring diverse views on the subject of love, and each speaker seems to build on the last enhancing the story. Times have changed so much since Plato wrote The Symposium is it possible to compare Plato’s ornate description of love to love in the modern world? Love today is much like love in Plato’s time, and I believe people today are still searching for their “other half” – the missing piece, for it is a complete love which makes us better people.
Love in its purest form is an unconditional selfless love like a mother’s love for her child, but what is love? Is love a feeling of deep affection of is it a burning desire for a companion? Love is wanting someone to be happy and putting their necessities and desires before one’s own needs. Throughout all the diverse cultures that have risen, fallen, and/or survived the test of time; love has been defined in such disparate ways which are shown in their cultures, literature, and history.
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
What is love? The age-old question arises once more. In truth, a universal definition has not been agreed upon, but generally one can define love as “an indication of adoration” or an “an ineffable feeling of intense attraction shared in interpersonal and sexual relationships.” Love can be directed towards kin, a lover, oneself, nature, or humanity- but regardless that love in an emotional sense is eternal. Some fall into love, and some claim they fall out. Love should be endless, lasting, and pure, but half of the time that love ends up being a sham. There is solid record of this false love- love that is meant to look pure- in the famous writings The Lottery and To His Coy Mistress.
“ Love” is the most romantic, powerful and meaningful to each human being on the earth, but what exactly is the meaning of “ love” ? Some say love is a streak of sunshine to light the darkness; some say love is an umbrella to keep them away from sadness; some say love is the fountain of happiness; in addition, a speaker , Phaedrus , who is from the book “ Plato’s Symposium”, said that “ Love is one of the most ancient gods”(This is a quote from the book, p873). Indeed, the love of god had given her great love to me since I were born, and so that I can write an essay as a newborn free man. However, as I look around that people who stand beside me and come alone with me, and no matter how lost I get they never abandon me, they always stick up for me. Why? Because this is what love is. So, I realize that love is simple that I can find it everywhere.
Some may describe it as a force of nature that cannot be taken away or forced, while others may explain it as a choice rather than a feeling ("Anapol, Deborah":"Bergeron, Madeleine"). The official definitions in a dictionary range from a strong affection for a person to a great liking for something ("Love"). There is not one article where the definition of the idea, love, is explicitly stated without opinions, but instead there are ones about what love is, isn't, and how to love. The concept of love requires time, selflessness, and understanding ("Bergeron, Madeleine"). Without love, there is no room for anger, grief, and pain because it is compassionate and shows sympathy. Threatening and harm are not options in the case of love. The idea is its own law, which needs a good heart, and growth with another person ("Bergeron, Madeleine"). The famous poet, William Shakespeare once said: "Love is blind and lovers cannot see" ("Shakespeare's Top 50 Love Quotes"). This quote means that love causes people to think and see from a different perspective. Love knows that we are all related to each other and teaches us to understand and appreciate our flaws ("Bergeron, Madeleine"). Romantic love is the attraction towards another person ("Bergeron, Madeleine"). Love does not have one set definition rather than multiple perspectives from different
Love is arguably the most powerful emotion possessed by mankind; it is the impalpable bond that allows individuals to connect and understand one another. Pure love is directly related to divinity. Without love, happiness and prosperity become unreachable goals. An individual that possesses all the desired superficial objects in the world stands alone without the presence of love. For centuries love has been marveled by all that dare encounter it. Countless books and poems have been transcribed to explain the phenomenon of love, but love surpasses all intellectual explanations and discussions. Love is not a definition, but rather a thought, an idea. This idea, the idea of love, burns inside us all. Instinctually, every soul on Earth is
The word “love” has always caught attention with its meanings. There have been many definitions used for this word throughout history, beginning with its start during the ninth century. With the examples of current use(from Urban Dictionary, Twitter, a student survey, a song, and a film) it is obvious that the definition of this word has been lost in translation in many different ways. Looking closely at the synonyms, along with the history and current use, the true definition is clearly seen through a usual worldly haze.
To better understand the concept of "love", lets define the value of love. Love is the most valuable commodity in the world. We all need love just like a fish needs water. Without love, life would not be worth living. With love in our lives, we are empowered beyond belief.