The motif of the love story is a particularly important feature in literature. Throughout pop culture media, we have many favorite couples that we swoon over and root for to get romantically involved. Finally getting to read the moments when our favorite leading characters realize their feelings is what keeps the pages turning.
Contrastingly, there are pairings that make many readers cringe. We want to recognize those love stories that may be portrayed as the dream romance, but in actuality, they need to be called out for the toxicity that they possess. The following list contains a mix of these iconic duos from past and present literary history.
Trigger Warning: The mention of certain content and topics in this article may be triggering to some readers. The topics include inappropriate sexual relationships, depression, and mental health. There are also heavy spoilers for the stories discussed.
Edward Cullen and Bella Swan in Twilight
I will be the first to admit that I obsessively sped through this series back in the mid-2000’s. Twilight was a massive phenomenon when it was first released. We were all declaring whether we were Team Edward or Team Jacob (I broadcasted my side with the Team Edward t-shirt that I proudly wore). Unfortunately, looking back on this story almost two decades later, the relationship of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan presents some major red flags.
To start off, Edward gives weird mixed signals to Bella when they first meet. He’s just rude, with instances of him holding his nose next to Bella during science class. He’s aggressive and snappy without giving Bella any reason. Then, all of a sudden, he ropes her in. Bella, being a very impressionable teenager, becomes completely obsessed with Edward.
As their relationship unfolds, Edward’s actions are even more alarming, like his jealousy over Bella’s friendship with Jacob and his stalker vibes as he watches her sleep. Then, after an unfortunate incident where Jasper almost eats Bella for dinner, Edward dumps Bella without any further discussion. This causes Bella to go into a depressive spiral that nearly leads to her throwing herself off a cliff into the ocean. On top of it all, he is a blood-sucking vampire who nearly kills her multiple times.
Jacob Black and Renesmee Cullen in Twilight
Another problematic couple stemming from the Twilight series is Jacob and Renesmee — who are even worse than the lovers above. The worst part of their relationship is the fact that Jacob imprints on Renesmee when she is born. Presented in what is supposed to be a romantic love-at-first-sight moment, it is actually super repulsive seeing this adult realize his eventual attraction for a child.
For those who have not been introduced to the Twilight universe, what is “imprinting”, you may ask? Jacob is a member of the fictional werewolf tribe called the Quileute. Within their folklore traditions, the concept of “imprinting” is when a member of the tribe involuntary develops an unbreakable attraction to another, who is considered their soul mate.
Even though Jacob has been head over heels with Bella for the entire franchise, his sudden infatuation with Bella and Edward’s newborn infant is creepy. The author leaves readers to infer that Jacob was never in love with Bella, but instead, his attraction was to what would eventually be grown in her womb. Regardless of the questionable age differences, the concept of imprinting is also unfair for those who are imprinted, since they do not have a choice in the situation. Additionally, if Renesmee later chooses not to embrace the relationship, then the impacts of her decision could be damaging to both parties, since Jacob would not be able to love another.
Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights
Throughout the years, Wuthering Heights has always been perceived as a staple on lists for romantic novels. Admittedly, when I first read the novel a few years ago during a college literature course, I expected that Heathcliff was going to be a dashing, swoon-worthy character. However, I soon learned that both Heathcliff and Catherine are some of the most toxic characters in literary history.
Instead of the suave and sophisticated individual that I expected, Heathcliff is a moody brute, set on revenge for his troubled past. It is understandable what the appeal is for those who read this during their teenage years. Heathcliff is the bad boy that we all think, at one point in our lives, that we can fix. He is the Matt Healy to our Taylor Swift, as we stubbornly proclaim, “But daddy, I love him.”
Using a term Lord Byron coined, we call Heathcliff a “Byronic hero”, similar to today’s “anti-hero.” His vengeful spirit makes him less romantically appealing under the surface. The author of How to Date a Feminist, Samantha Ellis, compares her love for Heathcliff to her dating history, stating that:
As I hit my teens, I actively chased bad men… In my twenties, I went out with men who were not always honest to me, or nice.
Catherine is not innocent in this situation either. Even though she shares a childhood history with Heathcliff and develops feelings for him, she abandons all loyalty to him and chooses to marry Edgar Linton because he is better off financially.
Barry Lyndon and Lady Honoria Lyndon in The Luck of Barry Lyndon
While the 1975 film, directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Ryan O’Neal and Marisa Berenson, is a bit more well-known than the book, the original story of Barry Lyndon emerges from the 1844 novel by William Makepeace Thackeray entitled The Luck of Barry Lyndon. Coming from meager beginnings, Barry Lyndon is an Irish scoundrel who attempts to scheme his way up the social ladder in 18th-century Europe. Along the way, he abandons his post in the army and fakes his credentials as a higher-class officer. Even though he is caught in this act, he continues to partake in these scandalous acts to establish a more lucrative footing in society.
When the breathtaking Lady Lyndon enters his life, he sneaks his way into her bed and marries her. At first, the relationship blazes, but it eventually sizzles out as the Lady witnesses her husband in the arms of other women, right under her nose. It becomes apparent that Barry is only interested in Lady Lyndon due to her social standing and he takes full advantage of that resource.
Alejandra and Matthew in The Haunting of Alejandra
When we are first introduced to Alejandra and Matthew, their relationship is already cold. The storyline follows Alejandra, a mother of three children who is caught in a loveless marriage. The book presents Alejandra’s deteriorating mental state, as she is being tormented by the Mexican folkloric ghost La Llorona. The spooky entity targets Alejandra’s unfulfilled aspects of her life, as she feels like she is a failure in her roles as mother and wife.
Matthew does very little to help Alejandra’s situation. The readers are made aware of their backstory in which Alejandra gives up any potential career, so she can take care of the family, while Matthew is able to shine and develop. There are also instances in which Matthew gaslights Alejandra and makes her feel bad for not enjoying her role as a mother. Flashbacks also reveal how Matthew treats Alejandra as a trophy wife and more like an object than an actual human being.
While there are plenty of couples that we are rooting for, we also need to take a moment to recognize the toxic examples, as well. It is important to distinguish these poisonous traits in order to not fall into the same traps in your own romantic lives. What is your favorite couple that you hope would call it quits?
To read more about the literary couples we do approve of, check out our article: 6 Superior Book Couples That Make Our Hearts Explode.
Or if you want some of our picks for red flag lovers, check out our bookshelf: Morally Gray: Thrilling Dark Romance Books We Love!
