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libraryofbabelThere are of course, the four loves: agape, philia, eros, and storge. The first of those four has been discussed elsewhere; here, we turn to the other three.
As someone who was set apart and somewhat different from her peers even in the unusual society of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Miaoshan Du largely bonded with her family, and particularly her mother and sister. As a result, one could surmise that she found it particularly easy to relate to others in a familial manner as a result, and often found herself in positions of mentorship to younger people around her as she became older. It was for her, the simplest way to show affection. The young women who she changed into monsters after her own nature, or adopted within vampire society—she considered them to be the daughters she would otherwise never have.
Iris Virga, who was lacking a mother; Paula Pacheco Ruíz, who would later be known as "Grace" on Taisho Roman Revolution, who lacked support for her ambitions from her family; Eve, who found herself alone in Los Angeles but for someone who viewed her as an accessory. To them, she tried to be the rock they could rely on; a strong support they would never have to worry about. The results were mixed.
Perhaps due to the fact that she arrived at BAD END=DEAD END with amnesia, the newly-dubbed "Hope" found it easier to form peer-level bonds of affection with those around her. Furthermore, she found herself surrounded by many like-minded individuals—something she hadn't experienced but for her times working with larger cells of the Sept. This could be considered true philia, to use Lewis's definitions. Hope found herself trying to meet them where they were—to be able to give them the affection they found comforting, just as they had given her care in turn.
The love that she had always found most difficult to grasp was romantic love; due to her early experiences, she found it fraught at best. Furthermore, due to her personal mission and the way she prioritized her ideals, it left precious little room for close bonds of that kind. Furthermore, she was afraid: of what she could be compelled to do, with that kind of feeling. Her steps toward eros were tentative—finding that part of her did want to kiss Amaranth, experimenting with going on a date with Nychta. And toward Sashay Silfda, who she called Aria, she realized that their mutual understanding and care had, to her, become love.
This then, raises the question: which love should take priority? To love all equally still eventually requires one to make a choice.
As someone who was set apart and somewhat different from her peers even in the unusual society of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Miaoshan Du largely bonded with her family, and particularly her mother and sister. As a result, one could surmise that she found it particularly easy to relate to others in a familial manner as a result, and often found herself in positions of mentorship to younger people around her as she became older. It was for her, the simplest way to show affection. The young women who she changed into monsters after her own nature, or adopted within vampire society—she considered them to be the daughters she would otherwise never have.
Iris Virga, who was lacking a mother; Paula Pacheco Ruíz, who would later be known as "Grace" on Taisho Roman Revolution, who lacked support for her ambitions from her family; Eve, who found herself alone in Los Angeles but for someone who viewed her as an accessory. To them, she tried to be the rock they could rely on; a strong support they would never have to worry about. The results were mixed.
Perhaps due to the fact that she arrived at BAD END=DEAD END with amnesia, the newly-dubbed "Hope" found it easier to form peer-level bonds of affection with those around her. Furthermore, she found herself surrounded by many like-minded individuals—something she hadn't experienced but for her times working with larger cells of the Sept. This could be considered true philia, to use Lewis's definitions. Hope found herself trying to meet them where they were—to be able to give them the affection they found comforting, just as they had given her care in turn.
The love that she had always found most difficult to grasp was romantic love; due to her early experiences, she found it fraught at best. Furthermore, due to her personal mission and the way she prioritized her ideals, it left precious little room for close bonds of that kind. Furthermore, she was afraid: of what she could be compelled to do, with that kind of feeling. Her steps toward eros were tentative—finding that part of her did want to kiss Amaranth, experimenting with going on a date with Nychta. And toward Sashay Silfda, who she called Aria, she realized that their mutual understanding and care had, to her, become love.
This then, raises the question: which love should take priority? To love all equally still eventually requires one to make a choice.