Often, there is a sense of fate or inevitability in painful love in Chinese novels. The idea that the lovers are somehow doomed from the start, whether it's due to a prophecy, a family curse, or just the way the world seems to be against them. This gives the love story a tragic and poignant feel.
Often, the characters' own insecurities contribute to this 'blind yet painful' love. They may be so desperate for love or acceptance that they overlook warning signs or red flags in their relationships. In Chinese novels, this can be seen in stories where a character continues to love someone who treats them poorly because they are afraid of being alone or because they have low self - esteem, and this kind of love is both blind and full of pain.
Typically, a painful love novel often involves unrequited love. For example, one character may love another deeply, but that love is not returned. This creates a sense of longing and heartache.
One of the well - known painful love Chinese novels is 'Eileen Chang's 'Love in a Fallen City'. It tells a complex and somewhat melancholy love story set against the backdrop of a changing era. The main characters' relationship is full of uncertainties and the pain of unfulfilled desires.
Chinese love novels often involve complex family relationships. For example, in many classic novels, the lovers' relationship is affected by family status, family honor and family rules.
One characteristic is its complexity. In Chinese novels, love is often intertwined with family, society and moral values. For example, in 'A Dream of Red Mansions', the love between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu is restricted by the family structure and social norms. Another characteristic is its diversity. There are different types of love like the pure and innocent first love, the deep and selfless family love and the loyal and unwavering friendship love. Also, the expression of love in Chinese novels can be very subtle. It may be shown through small actions or glances rather than direct declarations.
Chinese love novels often emphasize the concept of fate. Lovers are sometimes seen as being destined to be together or not. For example, in 'A Dream of Red Mansions', the fates of the characters are pre - determined to some extent.
Well, a characteristic is the presence of difficult obstacles. These can be external, like family opposition or social differences. In 'Romeo and Juliet', their families' feud is a huge obstacle that causes a great deal of pain in their relationship. Also, internal conflicts within the characters, such as self - doubt or fear of commitment, are common in painful romance novels.
First, secrecy is a major characteristic. The love in these novels is not openly expressed at the beginning. Second, there is often a strong sense of longing. Since the love is hidden, the characters long for the day when they can be open about their feelings. Third, they usually have a lot of internal monologues. The characters constantly struggle within themselves about whether to reveal their love or not.
In Chinese novels, exclusive love often involves deep loyalty. For example, in 'A Dream of Red Mansions', Jia Baoyu remains deeply attached to Lin Daiyu despite the many distractions in the Jia family. Their love is exclusive in that it is not easily swayed by external temptations or the wishes of others.
Many Chinese novels about love often emphasize the concept of fate. For example, in traditional novels, lovers may be brought together by some mysterious force. And they usually have a strong sense of family and social context influencing the love. In 'A Dream of Red Mansions', the love between the characters is also restricted by the family's decline and social rules.