It starts so young, and
I'm angry about that. The garbage we're taught. About
love, about what's “romantic.” Look at so
many of the so-called romantic figures in books and movies.
Do we ever stop and think how many of them would cause
serious and drastic unhappiness after The End? Why are sick
and dangerous personality types so often shown as passionate
and tragic and something to be longed for when those are the
very ones you should run for your life from? Think about it.
Heathcliff. Romeo. Don Juan. Jay Gatsby. Rochester. Mr.
Darcy. From the rigid control freak in The Sound of Music to
all the bad boys some woman goes running to the airport to
catch in the last minute of every romantic comedy. She should
let him leave. Your time is so valuable, and look at these
guys– depressive and moody and violent and immature and
self-centered. And what about the big daddy of them all,
Prince Charming? What was his secret life? We don't know
anything about him, other than he looks good and comes to the
rescue.
—
Deb Caletti