What is a Love Triangle? A Geometry Lesson by me

I’m not a math teacher, so please bear with me.

The Love “V”

A love triangle is perhaps the most utilized and recognizable literary trope around. The trope is compelling because you have two people competing for the same person’s heart, putting this person in a tough position. After endless bouts of drama and jealousy, the main character must pick the person they wish to be with. But who said that they had to pick just one?

I’ve seen many love triangles look more like a “V.” You have a central point connecting the other two points. There is usually no link or feelings between the two people who are pining for the love interest. Examples of this would be media like Twilight, The Mortal Instruments series, and The Vampire Diaries.

Usually, people who root for one lover are ecstatic that they end up with the main character, and the others who preferred the second choice are left with absolute crumbs.

Why must these hard decisions be made? Why must one party have to lose for the other one to win? It seems quite selfish if you ask me (which nobody did, but I’m going to say it anyway).

The True Love Triangle

Upon further inspection, these relationships that we’ve called love triangles aren’t really loved triangles. A true love triangle requires each point to be connected.

To translate, each person must be pining for the other two people, or else the triangle is not complete. They all have to love each other, and all want to be together.

This definition of a love triangle is more correct, in my opinion, because each person feels like the others would be better off without them. This creates a perfect pot of boiling angst that makes your story even more heartwrenching.

Imagine the impact of more stories written with this relationship dynamic. Authors can teach their readers that they can love more than one person at the same time.

If all are consenting, a group of three or more people can be in a committed and loving relationship with one another. I haven’t seen many polyamorous relationships in media, but the ones I do see always make my heart warm.

Dear Authors, please put more polyamorous relationships in your books so your readers’ hearts can remain in one piece. You can break them initially, but make sure you put them back together because we’ve grown attached.

You know… I should teach math more often…