What are the common themes in indian sad love story novels?
The theme of sacrifice is quite prevalent. In Indian sad love story novels, one or both of the lovers may sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of family, tradition or social norms. Also, the power of unspoken words or unexpressed feelings is a common theme. There are often situations where the characters are unable to communicate their love properly, which results in misunderstandings and ultimately a sad love story. Additionally, the clash between modernity and tradition is frequently explored. As India modernizes, the clash between the new values of love and the old - fashioned family and social values often leads to sad love affairs.
Well, separation is a huge theme. It could be due to various reasons like distance, family forcing one of the lovers to move away, or even death. In some novels, the lovers are separated by war or political unrest. Another theme is the idea of unrequited love. One person may love deeply while the other may not feel the same way or may be forced to hide their true feelings. And the concept of duty over love is also common. Characters may feel obligated to their family, society or even a pre - arranged marriage, which stands in the way of their true love, thus creating a sad love story.
One common theme is caste differences. In many Indian sad love stories, the lovers are from different castes, and society's disapproval of such unions leads to heartbreak. For example, in 'The God of Small Things', the love between the characters is thwarted by the strict caste - based hierarchy. Another theme is family honor. Families often oppose love matches if they think it will bring shame to their name, as seen in various Chetan Bhagat novels. And the theme of fate also plays a big role. Sometimes, despite the lovers' best efforts, fate seems to conspire against them, leading to a sad end to their love story.