Lovers (character)
Encyclopedia
Lovers are stock character
s whose efforts to get together, despite the blocking effect of other characters, constitute the plot of the story.
The lovers are eiron
figures, and it has been noted that they often are coloress creatures, sometimes even ingenues
next to the blocking figures, the alazon
s who prevent their love, such as the Senex iratus
or the Bad fiancé. The Innamorati
of Commedia dell'arte
represent this by going unmasked in the midst of the other characters. Often, the lovers are incapable of resolving their own problems. The role of rescuing them is often a tricky slave
's place.
When the lovers' problems are at least partly internal to them, they have diverged from the stock characters. Florizel and Perdita in The Winter's Tale
are such lovers; Perdita's reluctance to be wooed by a man above her (apparent) birth is a trivial problem beside his father's rage at such a match. But in Much Ado About Nothing
, Claudio and Hero's problems arise from Claudio's being gulled, but are not solved until Claudio shakes off the villain's influence, and so he is not the stock character; still less are Benedick and Beatrice these stock characters, where the obstacles to their love are entirely in their characters.
Northrop Frye
considered this plot, with colorless characters and all, a central portion of the myth of spring, comedy.
When the romance is not the central plot element, the character with whom the hero is romantically involved is called the love interest.
Stock character
A Stock character is a fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Stock characters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics. In their most general form, stock characters are related to literary archetypes,...
s whose efforts to get together, despite the blocking effect of other characters, constitute the plot of the story.
The lovers are eiron
Eiron
In the theatre of ancient Greece, the eirôn was one of three stock characters in comedy. The eirôn usually succeeds in bringing his braggart opponent down by making himself seem like less than he actually was.-History:...
figures, and it has been noted that they often are coloress creatures, sometimes even ingenues
Ingenue (stock character)
See also Disingenuous, which is not quite the antonym that it may seem!The ingénue is a stock character in literature, film, and a role type in the theatre; generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome. Ingenue may also refer to a new young actress or one typecast in...
next to the blocking figures, the alazon
Alazon
In the theatre of ancient Greece, alazôn is one of three stock characters in comedy. He is the opponent of the eirôn. The alazôn is an impostor that sees himself as greater than he actually is. The senex iratus and the miles gloriosus are two types of alazôn.-Sources:* Carlson, Marvin. 1993...
s who prevent their love, such as the Senex iratus
Senex iratus
The senex iratus or heavy father figure is a comic archetype character who belongs to the alazon or impostor group in theater, manifesting himself through his rages and threats, his obsessions and his gullibility....
or the Bad fiancé. The Innamorati
Innamorati
Gli Innamorati were stock characters within the theatre style known as Commedia dell'arte, which appeared in 16th century Italy. These characters were present within commedia plays for the sole purpose of being in love with one another, and moreover with themselves...
of Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
represent this by going unmasked in the midst of the other characters. Often, the lovers are incapable of resolving their own problems. The role of rescuing them is often a tricky slave
Tricky slave
The tricky slave is a stock character. He is a clever, lower-class person who brings about the happy ending of a comedy for the lovers. He is more clever than the upper-class people about him, both the lovers and the characters who block their love, and typically also looking out for his own...
's place.
When the lovers' problems are at least partly internal to them, they have diverged from the stock characters. Florizel and Perdita in The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
are such lovers; Perdita's reluctance to be wooed by a man above her (apparent) birth is a trivial problem beside his father's rage at such a match. But in Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
, Claudio and Hero's problems arise from Claudio's being gulled, but are not solved until Claudio shakes off the villain's influence, and so he is not the stock character; still less are Benedick and Beatrice these stock characters, where the obstacles to their love are entirely in their characters.
Northrop Frye
Northrop Frye
Herman Northrop Frye, was a Canadian literary critic and literary theorist, considered one of the most influential of the 20th century....
considered this plot, with colorless characters and all, a central portion of the myth of spring, comedy.
When the romance is not the central plot element, the character with whom the hero is romantically involved is called the love interest.