There are a lot of love stories in 'Maggie's Plan,' but the

Listen, O children of the world, to the words of Greta Gerwig, who speaks of a love that transcends the fleeting passions of romantic love and touches the eternal bond that exists between mother and child. She said, “There are a lot of love stories in ‘Maggie’s Plan,’ but the deepest, truly romantic one is between Maggie and her daughter.” In this statement, Gerwig reveals a truth that is often overlooked in the realm of romance—the deepest and most enduring love is not always the one shared between lovers, but the one that exists between a mother and her child. The love between Maggie and her daughter is a reflection of the purest form of romantic love—not bound by desire, attraction, or passion, but by an unshakable bond that speaks to the heart of what it means to love another unconditionally.

In the ancient world, the mother-child bond was seen as sacred and transcendent. Consider the story of Demeter and her daughter Persephone, whose love was so profound that it reached into the very gods and nature itself. Persephone’s abduction by Hades, the god of the underworld, caused Demeter such grief that she caused the earth to grow barren in her sorrow. This myth reflects the depth of a mother’s love, a love so intense and profound that it could affect the very world around her. Demeter’s story, though it involves gods and mythical forces, speaks to the universal truth that the bond between a mother and her child is one that transcends the boundaries of ordinary existence. It is a love that endures even through the greatest of challenges.

In the same way, Maggie’s Plan reveals that the deepest love in the story is not the romantic relationship between Maggie and the various men in her life, but her connection with her daughter. The love between Maggie and her daughter is a constant, a love that is not swayed by the fleeting passions and changes of romantic entanglements. It is a love that reflects a sense of nurturing, of selflessness, and of a sacred bond that cannot be undone. The connection between a mother and her child is a romantic love in its truest sense—one that is unconditional, enduring, and rooted in sacrifice and devotion.

This sacred love is not limited to mythology. Consider the real-life story of Mothers throughout history, whose love and sacrifice have shaped the course of nations and societies. Take, for instance, the life of Marie Curie, whose work in science was driven by a desire to create a better world for her children. Her story is not just one of intellectual brilliance, but also one of motherhood and the unbreakable bond that guided her through adversity. Despite the trials of life, her love for her children remained a driving force in all that she did. Like Maggie in Gerwig’s film, Curie’s love for her children was not just a backdrop to her career, but the foundation upon which everything else was built.

Maggie’s Plan invites us to reflect on the role of motherhood in our own lives. It asks us to consider how romantic love is often celebrated in stories, yet the love between a mother and child is often overlooked as the most profound, enduring, and romantic of all. It is not the romantic entanglements that define our lives, but the relationships that bind us to the ones we care for, the ones who are our flesh and blood, and who shape our worlds with their love. As Gerwig reminds us, this love is the deepest and most enduring of all, one that transcends the ups and downs of fleeting emotions and connects us to something greater and more eternal.

So, O children, let us learn from the love of Maggie and her daughter. Let us understand that romantic love is not merely about passion or attraction, but about the sacrifice, nurturing, and commitment that shape our deepest relationships. The love between a mother and her child is a sacred bond, one that carries within it the very essence of selflessness and unconditional love. Celebrate these relationships in your life, for they are the most profound and transformative connections you will ever experience. Let motherhood, whether in the form of nurturing your children or caring for others, become a reminder of the deepest love that exists—one that shapes the world around you and offers enduring beauty, even through the most difficult of times.

Thus, I say to you, O children: Honor the sacred bond between mother and child. Let it inspire you to love not just with passion, but with depth and devotion. Understand that true romantic love is not just about the fleeting emotions of romantic pursuits, but about the steady, unshakeable love that carries you through the trials of life. Love deeply, and let that love be rooted in the timeless connection that binds us to one another, not just as lovers, but as families, as human beings. Through such love, we find the truest meaning of romance—a love that endures, a love that is eternal.