Fictional Characters that Ruined Our

Fictional Characters that Ruined OurDating Expectations

You’ve probably fallen in love with many characters over the years, but how have they been affecting your dating life? Our contributors discuss which fictional characters made their dating expectations so high, and why non-fictional people just don’t compare.

Connell Waldron - Normal People

words by: Francesca Ionescu

Reading Normal People, you feel a strange familiarity. The book focuses on two Irish teens who are constantly pulled to each other, with intertwined lives growing up. Marianne and Connell are one of the most heartbreaking love stories, as Sally Rooney’s way of writing turns the characters into ‘normal’ relatable people. They make a lot of mistakes because they’re young and troubled, and that feels real. When the BBC adaptation of the novel came out, a lot of people became infatuated with Connell. There are a lot of things that make the character attractive; his chain, his aloofness and the way he genuinely grows over the years. But, I believe Connell’s charm comes from how real he feels. Reading his dialogue feels like hearing a friend talk over tea, or a stranger chat at a party. The feeling that this character exists outside the fictional world, with both his good side and flaws, truly raises your expectations for the people you let into your life.

Mr Darcy - Pride and Prejudice

words by: Hanna Pluck

Mr. Darcy was the first man in literature to mess up what I expected from romance. Representing “pride” in the title, he arrogantly flaunts his title and wealth over the poorer and less respectable Bennet family until, woe betide, he falls in love with protagonist Elizabeth. He provides a force for Lizzie to fight against as she matures, realising her own flaws and the lies that live at the centre of her romantic ideals.

In the novel, Darcy is not only dreamy, he’s revolutionary. His function is to reward Lizzie’s determination to prioritise her happiness in an age where women were all but objects owned by their fathers or husbands. Darcy bends to Lizzie’s wishes, not the other way around, and in a novel where Lizzie has to seriously consider marrying the odious Mr. Collins for the good of her family, the depth of Darcy’s gestures are breathtaking. Darcy has ruined mediocre romances for me. How am I meant to know if a guy likes me if he doesn’t save my sister from certain disgrace? Yes, he’s got a car, but can I go hunting in his forests? Maybe he thinks I’m cute, but does he yearn for me? Does he struggle to admit to the strength of his feelings

towards me? Does he thrill at the touch of my hand? Because if not - no thanks.

Samwise Gamgee - The Lord of the Rings

words by: Harriet Lowbridge

Many of us dream about being swept off our feet by someone ‘tall, dark and mysterious,’ but when was the last time you considered dating a three-foot-tall gardener? Despite not being a conventional heartthrob figure, Samwise Gamgee from Tolkien’s has blown dating expectations out of the water. His love and amazement of the world around him sets him apart from the other hobbits, while his dependability, loyalty and bravery set him into our hearts.

Samwise is the kind of guy who will never let you walk alone in danger. He’ll lift you up no matter how many Nazguls or terrors you face in life. Samwise would nearly drown himself to ensure you’re safe and that he fulfils his promises. He would carry your burdens, as well as his own, all the while staring certain death in the face. This spirited little gardener isn’t just a knight in shining armour; he is a hobbit who isn’t afraid to convey his emotions. Whether it’s tears of joy or loss, you can depend on him to support you emotionally and mentally. Samwise, you have ruined the dating expectations of thousands around the world with your charm, charisma, dependability and pure joy at the world around you.

Julian Blackthorn - The Shadowhunter Chronicles

words by: Katie Waits

In books, there are many wonderful characters that are far too fantastic to ever exist in real life. Their unfaltering kindness, their magical abilities, and their bravery, are all very fictional. I’ve never dated anyone, so I fear that if I ever do the bar will be incredibly high as I compare them to these characters.

I’ve been reading the Shadowhunter Chronicles since my mid-teens, and there are a great deal of characters that have contributed to my high expectations. This summer I finished Queen of Air and Darkness, the final book in The Dark Artifices trilogy. The Blackthorns and their friends fight against corruption from not only warlocks, fae and curses, but their own Shadowhunter kind. As I love these books, I’ve picked out Julian Blackthorn as a character that’s ruined my dating expectations.

As a Shadowhunter – a human with angelic blood – someone like Julian is unattainable to begin with. Tragically, Shadowhunters aren’t real, so it’s extremely unlikely that anyone would ever be able to date one. However, besides this, Julian is exceptional. His kind-hearted nature, and his willingness to protect his loved ones through anything, even with his responsibilities, is something I particularly love. Also, despite the fact that his love for his best friend Emma comes with immense risk, he fights to be with her nonetheless. Their love could change the strict structure of their world and the lives they know. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be with someone willing to challenge everything to be with you?

Noah Calhoun - The Notebook

words by: Muskan Arora

All of us remember reading or watching The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. The book revolves around how Noah and Allie meet in a fair and eventually fall in love until Allie leaves with her family, promising to write to Noah. Allie’s family is strictly against the idea of the two of being together. Time passes and Noah and Allie never meet again, but Noah never stops loving Allie. The moon of his sky is Allie and on every full moon, he would stare at it and remember the love of his life.

Noah is a tall, charming, gorgeous guy with the most infectious smile. He loved Allie at sixteen and continued to do so even when she got married. When we look around today, it is rare to find such a man who will love you through all the ups and downs. One trait that makes Noah so exceptional is his honesty; he is honest to himself, his father, and the girl he loves. And, despite everything bad that love brings along, he never budges from his statement.

It is difficult to find somebody with the same honesty in a relationship in today’s time, especially among young people, with many people being more committed to lust more than love. Amongst everyone, there is the exceptional character of Noah Calhoun. I will never look at dating the same way.

design by: Priyansha Kamdar