When Harry Met Sally Essay Example
The film When Harry Met Sally shows many examples of negative and positive relationships. The positive relationships are healthy relationships and are best represented by the relationship between Harry and Sally. The negative relationships are unhealthy relationships and are best demonstrated by the relationship between Sally's friend Marie and the guys that she dates. Through these relationships, the film tries to answer the question, "Can men and women be just friends?", and also shows what can happen to a friendship when sex becomes involved.
The main point this film tries to convey about relationships is what happens to a relationship when two people cross that fine line between friendship and love by having sex. The main characters, Harry and Sally, are very good friends and have known each other a long time. They have what Sternberg would refer to as companionate love, which consists of commitment and intimacy (Sternberg and M. Barnes' study (as cited in Olson, David H. & DeFrain, John, 2003)). They openly share their feelings and provide emotional support for each other as they are each getting over heartbreak. The intimacy of their friendship grows as they become closer and their relationship deepens. They share holidays with each other and talk on the phone late at night before they go to bed. They only thing they don't have is sex. Although they may be secretly attracted to each other they don't disclose that information and nothing passionate ever happens between them. According to Harry, "Men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way," but Harry and Sally seem to be doing a pretty good job.
Despite the label of "just friends" that they put on their relationship, there are many factors present that point to them eventually having a romantic relationship. In lecture on September 11, 2006, we discussed factors that affect attraction. Harry and Sally display many of the factors: they are both physically
The main point this film tries to convey about relationships is what happens to a relationship when two people cross that fine line between friendship and love by having sex. The main characters, Harry and Sally, are very good friends and have known each other a long time. They have what Sternberg would refer to as companionate love, which consists of commitment and intimacy (Sternberg and M. Barnes' study (as cited in Olson, David H. & DeFrain, John, 2003)). They openly share their feelings and provide emotional support for each other as they are each getting over heartbreak. The intimacy of their friendship grows as they become closer and their relationship deepens. They share holidays with each other and talk on the phone late at night before they go to bed. They only thing they don't have is sex. Although they may be secretly attracted to each other they don't disclose that information and nothing passionate ever happens between them. According to Harry, "Men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way," but Harry and Sally seem to be doing a pretty good job.
Despite the label of "just friends" that they put on their relationship, there are many factors present that point to them eventually having a romantic relationship. In lecture on September 11, 2006, we discussed factors that affect attraction. Harry and Sally display many of the factors: they are both physically