“Enemies to Lovers” and Other Tropes: Why Readers Crave the Familiar?

The Comfort of Knowing What Comes Next

There is something oddly enjoyable about watching a hate-filled couple slowly find love. Their arguments, sarcasm, misplaced chivalry, and simmering attraction that refuses to be ignored make for a compelling read. Even if the readers know what the ending would be, that does not stop them from following the protagonists until the very end. Why do you think the “enemies to lovers” trope continues to resurface and gain popularity?

Across different media, tropes continue to appear in the stories that we consume. From children’s fairy tales to modern-day romance novels and fantasy sagas, there are several recognizable and somewhat predictable plots and character archetypes. These include our childhood friends, soulmates who look like strangers, star-crossed lovers, underdogs, and best of all, a pair of enemies who gradually learn to understand and accept each other.

What Makes a Trope So Appealing?

A literary trope is a more or less predictable element that can be recognized in various forms of literature. Although these elements may appear frequently, writers and creators usually twist them enough for the story to remain engaging. One might say that a trope is a beginning or a foundation that sets the stage for the rest of the plot to unfold. Tropes should not be a limiting factor for one’s creativity, although they often serve as a reminder that the authors are not writing for everyone. A pair of enemies in love does not have to be the protagonist of a single story. Two works based on the same or similar tropes can be different in practically every aspect, save the common ground.

Moreover, familiarity breeds content, so to speak. Readers who recognize a particular trope usually know what to expect from the story or the characters in it. They are not surprised or outraged by an unusual turn of events or a protagonist who seems unlikable and difficult at first glance. On the contrary, knowing what to expect allows the audience to engage with the characters and the story itself in a more meaningful way. The hate towards each other that a pair of enemies feels is a hard thing to understand, at least from the outside. With a steady hand, the author or creator can guide one through the process of learning to love one’s enemy or even a long-time rival.

Why We Love the Enemies-to-Lovers Trope

There is something strangely satisfying about the journey of realizing that someone you considered absolutely impossible to be with is the love of your life. At first, the protagonist and their beloved seem to have little to nothing in common. Their conversations are filled with sarcasm, misunderstandings, and an ever-growing list of reasons why the two cannot be together. While these reasons, circumstances, and even the presence of the relationship itself may be questionable from the beginning, the characters are still willing to admit their feelings despite all of that.

That, ultimately, is the most exciting part of the whole concept. The reader sees the characters’ growth and development throughout the story. They can watch how two people who had seemingly nothing in common manage to find each other in the end. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is an excellent example of that. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy have to overcome numerous obstacles and misunderstandings about each other. However, both of them recognize the error of their ways and begin to accept and eventually love each other regardless of all the previous circumstances.

From Fake Dating to Found Family

The enemies-to-lovers trope is not an exception in the sheer variety of predictable stories. Fake dating is a fun trope to play around with, especially when it slowly becomes less fake than one might have predicted. Friends to lovers is a very similar concept, although the circumstances of the relationship and the protagonists’ actions raise many questions about their commitment to the friendship. In fantasy, the chosen one is a great example of one’s journey toward accepting one’s role in saving the world. However, the found family trope is our favorite one. It provides a safe and cozy feeling, knowing that some people, even if they are not related, will do anything for each other and that their relationships are built on trust and love.

We keep returning to the familiar because we like the comfort of knowing what to expect. Yet we appreciate it more because it is not always the same. There are exciting differences between works built on the same foundation of a literary trope. Our lives are filled with stress, uncertainty, and the general lack of control. For once, we want to relax and observe how someone else, perhaps a similar person, would deal with a similar situation. Not necessarily different, yes, but certainly not boring.

Why We Keep Coming Back

Ultimately, we keep coming back to the same old tropes because we enjoy the predictability and the comfort that these stories provide. We want to be surprised, yet we do not want to lose track of the characters we already care for. As the audience, we are invested in what happens to the protagonists; we care whether they are happy, angry, disappointed, or surprised. We want to be delighted by their achievements and their successes, and we often wonder whether they have any chance at real happiness. Maybe the trope itself might not be the most exhilarating thing, but the journey of the characters within that trope makes us care for them in the first place.

Official reference: Penguin Random House, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/6400/pride-and-prejudice-by-jane-austen/