Jealousy is a common one. In a vicious love story, characters often feel intense jealousy towards their partners or rivals, which can lead to destructive behavior.
Unrequited love can also play a big part. When one person's love is not returned in the way they expect, it can turn bitter and lead to a downward spiral. They might start to resent the other person, or try to force their love on them, causing a lot of pain and strife in the relationship. This unfulfilled longing can be a key factor in making a love story 'vicious'.
Another aspect could be a dark and intense plot. There might be a lot of jealousy and revenge themes. The love in such novels may not be the pure and sweet kind. Instead, it's full of power struggles. For instance, two characters might be in love but also competing for a family inheritance at the same time, which makes their relationship very tense.
Well, often she is passionate. She may be willing to sacrifice for love. For example, in many classic love stories, the woman gives up her own comfort or even her future prospects for the man she loves.
Many men in love stories are on a journey of self - discovery. Love makes them reevaluate their lives, values, and goals. They may change for the better, like learning to be more patient or responsible, all because of the love they have for someone.
A vicious love story can be captivating when it shows intense emotions and complex relationships. The conflicts and drama keep you hooked.
They often have a mysterious side. For example, in many Gothic novels, the male lead who might be a bad boy has secrets that the female lead tries to uncover during their relationship, which adds to the tension and allure.
One common characteristic is betrayal. In many 'evil love stories', one or both of the characters betray the trust of the other, like in the story of 'Madame Bovary' where Emma Bovary betrays her husband with other men.
In old fashioned love stories, social status usually plays a big role. Couples often have to overcome differences in class or family expectations. Also, the development of love is slow. It's not like the instant attraction and quick relationships we sometimes see today. It builds over time through shared experiences, conversations, and getting to know each other on a deeper level. There is also a sense of loyalty and commitment that is highly emphasized.
In movies, a 'rotten love story' often has a lot of lies. For example, in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', Tom Ripley lies constantly to get closer to Dickie. Another characteristic is obsession. Characters can become overly obsessed with each other in an unhealthy way, like in 'Fatal Attraction' where the woman's obsession turns into a nightmare for the man.
Another characteristic is the inability to let go. In movies like 'The Notebook', the male character's unwavering love for the female lead, even through many years and difficulties, can verge on obsession. He just can't move on without her, and his love is so intense that it dominates his entire life.
A third characteristic is that there is often a cycle of events. The act of vengeance can lead to more consequences which in turn fuel more vengeance or attempts to right the wrongs. In many classic vengeance love stories, the initial wrong or betrayal sets off a chain of events that are hard to stop. The characters are constantly dealing with the push - pull of their love and the need to settle scores, which makes the plot full of twists and turns.