The Popularity of Love Triangles in Literature

Why are there so many love triangles in books or series? I mean, I can think of a bunch right off the top of my head. There’s the classic Edward-Bella-Jacob from Twilight, Stefan-Damon-Elena from The Vampire Diaries, Klaus-Caroline-Tyler from The Vampire Diaries, Jackson-Hayley-Elijah from The Originals, Harry-Cho-Cedric from Harry Potter, Ron-Hermione-Krum from Harry Potter, Peeta-Katniss-Gale from the Hunger Games. I’m sure there are a hundred more that I haven’t mentioned.

Recently, I stopped to think about why authors and creators try to include love triangles in their work. I realized that love triangles create tension. It keeps readers invested in the story. It also makes readers ship characters together, to the extent that they create entire fandoms for the characters, like the well-known Stelena and Delena ships.

Love triangles allow writers to delve into character development. We get to see all sides of the characters. We get to watch as the character in the middle falls for both of the others, one at a time, and then watch as he or she chooses one in the end. There’s also the off chance that he or she leaves both of them, deciding to be with someone else or deciding that it’s better to be alone. We as the audience get to watch what the character is going to do. We can’t predict the outcome of the situation. When the story is in the first person perspective, you get to feel like you’re loved by not just one but two people, vying for your attention. It makes you want to keep reading or watching.