Literary Hub » 25 Actually Pretty Happy Couples In Literature

In “Anna Karenina,” one of the best known works of Russian literature, Anna is a woman in a loveless marriage who has an affair with Vronsky, the man she truly loves. Because of the social pressures of the time, leaving her husband is no easy task, so infidelity is the only option she is left with if she seeks to find her own happiness. They may not get their happily ever after, but their story and their love touch every generation of new readers, making their romance truly timeless. The “Odyssey,” an epic poem by Homer composed sometime in the 8th Century BCE, is considered one of the seminal works of Western literature. Though it’s a story of adventure, it also features an enviable love story.

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Sure, you’ve got your classic literary power couples, but it can also appear in less conventional, less obvious places. With February 14 right around the corner, we got to thinking about some of the best and most unusual examples of two becoming one in literature, and came up with these great bookish pairings. Fake dating is one of our favorite tropes — and this book made us love it even more than we already did.

• Jessie and Celine’s dialogue is what makes their relationship so strikingly real.
• Peggy and Steve’s love story is one of unwavering loyalty and a tragic, heartbreaking separation, leaving us all wishing for that final dance.
• The following section addresses common inquiries regarding impactful pairings in literature.
• You want to know how things progress and whether a happy ever after is in sight.

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Only teenagers when they meet and barely knowing one another for a few days before the story concludes, their love is one that represents youthful passion and folly. Recognizing that they were meant to live together or not at all, they are willing to end their lives for one another, and hey is there anything more romantic than that? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rhZAi1JsSc Okay maybe there is, but as far as Shakespeare goes, it makes for one seriously epic romance. Like many of the other couples on our list, there was no easy road to happiness for these two. In what seems to be a common theme with great literary romances, Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler alternated between love and animosity for much of their long story.

Of Our Favorite Literary Couples

In the novel however, their story is mainly relegated to the appendices and hardly appears in the main text. One romantic storyline that J.R.R. Tolkien actually did write into the main story was that of Eowyn and Faramir. Though Eowyn previously had a thing for Aragorn, it’s clear that her relationship with Faramir is far richer and deeper than the infatuation she felt for Aragorn.

Their dynamic showcases how true love can transcend societal expectations, making them quintessential soulmates. The relationships are not ancillary but rather integral components of the narrative, enriching its meaning and enhancing its impact on the reader. The connection between the characters must be purposeful and deeply entwined with the broader message of the work to create a lasting impression.

But then she hears Rochester calling and makes her way back to find his house has been burnt to the ground, and the man you know she loves is all sorts of banged up. Of course, none of that matters, and they live happily ever after in a spooky Brontë sort of way. Instead, skip all the way to Molly’s soliloquy at the end and realize how in love with Leopold she was. Olga comes so close to breaking Oblomov’s bad case of Oblomovitis, but things inevitably break down, and she falls in love with Stoltz. This one is really a case of what could have been, but it would have been nice to see Oblomov snap out of his eternal funk and find happiness. Much like Book Lovers, the relationship between the pair is so palpable because of their supportive (and playful!) partnership.

This is the story of a love lost as Anne decided to reject Wentworth on the advice of her friends. She would spend several years regretting this decision when her love came back into her life. I loved the relationship between these two characters, the culmination of Austen’s growing maturity as a writer.

Though Odysseus and Penelope are separated for most of the long tale, they both remain devoted to one another. Odysseus must battle the divine forces that keep him away from his beloved. Back at home, Penelope has to continue to keep at bay 108 suitors who try to take her husband’s place when he is presumed dead. Occasionally, we may choose the best fictional boyfriend or dream about the best fictional lovers scenario. Ultimately, though, it’s the chemistry and the storyline that truly capture our hearts.