My wife and I recently finished season 2 of Bridgerton, and I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I was sold by the performance of Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley as unrequited lovers Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, the writing and the acting bringing a real sense of yearning to the screen.
So, what can we learn about writing characters who yearn for each other? My wife and I took a stroll through some of our favourites, and the core of yearning seems to this: when one character wants another character but cannot consummate that desire. There are dozens, if not hundreds of techniques for achieving this, but here’s a handful of tried-and-true methods.
Physical removal. Whether it be kidnapping, studying abroad or existing in another dimension, this is a sure-fire way to get our antagonist to yearn for the person they love. A way to heighten the tension is to continue communication between our star-crossed lovers, and there’s potential for a great use of the “Clock” when the reader can count down the time or distance as the lovers try to unite. My wife’s favourite of this is the 2006 movie The Lake House, where the two lovers live in the same house but in different periods of time, and can only communicate through letters in the mailbox. A darker version of this trope is when one of the characters has died – the ultimate yearning for a love that can truly never be resolved. A heart-rending, beautiful story exploring this is the 2006 movie The Fountain, about a scientist who has found the secret to eternal life, but still grieves for his dead wife 500 years later.
Social relationship as a barrier to love is a favourite for romance writers everywhere. Two lovers from clashing cultural backgrounds, or a pairing looked down on by wider society, is a common theme to love stories across the globe. There’s too many to name, but the obvious that springs to mind is Pride and Prejudice. This gets extra marks because even when the social and class struggles have been overcome, Darcy and Elizabeth’s personal relationship is such a sorry state that while they love each other, both are terrified of taking that final leap to confess their true feelings. To have both our characters seeing each other, hiding behind structured dances and polite conversation, yet filled with yearning – these are the scenes that stick in the reader’s mind.
Which leads to my favourite way to create yearning over the unobtainable. Character backstories and character relationships as the obstacle to be overcome have the double advantage of revealing the true nature of the people in our story, as well as moving the plot along. Unrequited love is a tale as old as time. Another is the mistaken assumption that one character may have over another’s actions and intentions – do they really love me? Can I risk taking the plunge? There’s potential for some great plot twists as the full story of each character is finally revealed, and a happily ever after is by no means guaranteed.
No matter what technique you use, there are some great tools out there to help your characters truly yearn for one another, which can be just as satisying for your readers as the final resolution. Have fun with it and have a great week with your writing!
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