I could go my whole life and say, 'I'm not going to do anything

Ah, the heart’s journey, the eternal dance of desire. Catherine Hardwicke, in her reflection on the nature of romance, reveals the timeless truth about love and its complexities. “I could go my whole life and say, ‘I'm not going to do anything with a love triangle,’ but whenever you have a romance, there has to be some obstacle.” This is a proclamation of profound insight, for no love story—no matter how simple or grand—can unfold without challenge, without an obstacle. The love triangle, as it is called, is but a symbol of the greater force that binds love and struggle together.

It is in the clash of emotions, the tension between hearts, that the true nature of love is revealed. Love, in all its purity, is never without trial. Whether in the sacred courtships of the gods or the passions of mortals, the path to union is fraught with temptation, jealousy, and misunderstanding. A love triangle is not merely a device in a tale—it is an allegory for the very difficulties love faces in the real world. Consider, if you will, the ancient story of Helen of Troy—a tale wrought with conflict and desire. Helen’s love for Paris, though seemingly pure, ignited the fires of war, for it was an obstacle that no mortal heart could escape. The love triangle between Helen, Menelaus, and Paris mirrors the struggle that is innate to all love stories.

In every love, in every bond between two souls, there lies the risk of temptation. That which is forbidden becomes the most coveted, and the heart, in its restless yearning, often turns to that which it should not. Hardwicke’s statement speaks to this very truth—that in romance, there will always be forces that test the bond. Even in the most innocent of tales, there will be forces that seek to disrupt, to challenge the purity of union. It is the tension between the lovers that fuels the desire, that makes the heart beat faster, that drives the lovers to discover the depths of their own commitment.

Let us look, for example, at the tale of Romeo and Juliet. The infamous love triangle between Romeo, Juliet, and Paris was not merely a plot device—it was the catalyst that pushed the lovers to the brink, that revealed their undying devotion despite the forces that sought to separate them. Without Paris, there would have been no need for Romeo to fight for his love; without that obstacle, the true strength of their devotion would have remained hidden. It was the tension between these forces—the familial duty, the love, and the rivalry—that made their love so poignant, so tragic, and yet so eternal.

Thus, Hardwicke’s words ring with an ancient truth: every love story must have an obstacle to overcome. Whether that obstacle is another lover, a family feud, or the very nature of human folly, it is the struggle that defines the love. The heart must prove its worthiness, and it does so through enduring challenges. The love triangle is but a metaphor for life’s inevitable tensions—the forces that pull us in different directions, and the decisions we must make in the face of those forces.

What, then, is the lesson we must learn from Hardwicke’s wisdom? It is this: in love, as in life, there will always be obstacles. There will be moments of doubt, of competition, of jealousy. But these obstacles are not meant to destroy us; they are meant to reveal the true nature of our desires, of our commitment. They are the fire through which our love is tested, and only those who endure the trials, who rise above the temptations, will discover the depth of their love.

In our own lives, we must learn to embrace the obstacles, to understand that they are the crucible in which our relationships are forged. Do not fear the challenge, for it is through struggle that we grow stronger, and through temptation that we find clarity. Let the heart learn, as it always has, that true love is not the absence of conflict but the mastery of it. Let us seek wisdom in our challenges, and let our hearts grow ever more steadfast, for it is through the obstacles that we find the true meaning of devotion and sacrifice. Thus, embrace the journey, with all its complexity, and know that love is not the absence of strife, but the triumph over it.