A Love Triangle- Talking It over

A Love Triangle There are many different kinds of love; therefore, there are many different types of relationships as well. For example, according to the triangular theory of love, developed by psychologist Robert Sternberg, love has three constitutive components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. So, the type of love one experiences depends on the relative strengths of these components. The types of love that the main characters of Talking it Over experienced for one another were very diverse since their relationships were based on different components of love. Two men fell in love with the same woman for different reasons, and the same woman fell in love with two men at the same time. Is this really possible? If so, can anybody be found guilty for a love triangle? On the one hand, we have the two male characters, Oliver and Stuart, who in spite of being totally opposed as regards personality, they fall in love with the same woman. In the novel, Stuart meets Gillian and falls in love with her. Stuart finds with Gillian a Consummate love, which according to the triangular theory is the perfect kind of love because it involves the three components with a balanced strength. So, eventually, they marry and plan to have a family together. The problem is that Oliver also falls in love with her and becomes adamant on winning her over. The love that Oliver feels for Gillian can be defined as a Romantic love, and it derives from a combination of the intimate and passionate components of love. On the other hand, there is Gillian, a beautiful and young woman that falls in love with Stuart and Oliver at the same time. She decided to marry Stuart because she loved, respected and fancied him. “I fell in love, and Stuart is a good person, a kind person, and he loves me” she said. What Gillian felt for her husband was a Companionate love, an intimate, non-passionate type of love that is stronger than friendship because of the element of long-term commitment. Nevertheless,