A Comparative Study of Love Triangles in the Works of Austen, Brontë and Meyer

Justinek Anošek, Maruša (author), Krevel, Mojca (mentor), Šporčič, Anamarija (comentor)

This thesis explores how the love triangle—a recurring motif in both nineteenth-century and contemporary romantic fiction—is used across Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. By comparing the roles of love triangles in these texts, this study addresses the following questions: How significant are love triangles in romantic literature? How have they evolved from classic to modern settings? And to what extent are they shaped by societal norms? The thesis combines literary analysis, historical context, as well as Sternberg’s and Girard’s theories of love, along with the insights of readers gathered through a comprehensive survey. Ultimately, the thesis argues that love triangles are not just dramatic plot devices, but lenses through which readers examine choice, desire, and the weight of social expectation.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Twilight saga, Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, love triangles, Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Stephenie Meyer
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Year: 2025
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-173963
• COBISS.SI-ID: 254276099
• Publication date in RUL: 25.09.2025

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Primerjalna študija ljubezenskih trikotnikov v delih Austen, Brontë in Meyer

Abstract

Naloga raziskuje, kako je ljubezenski trikotnik – motiv, ki se pojavlja tako v romantični literaturi 19. stoletja kot sodobni romantični literaturi – uporabljen v romanih Prevzetnost in pristranost (Jane Austen), Viharni vrh (Emily Brontë) ter sagi Somrak (Stephenie Meyer). Z analizo teh del si naloga prizadeva odgovoriti na naslednja vprašanja: Kako pomembni so ljubezenski trikotniki v romantični literaturi? Kako se njihova vloga spreminja skozi literarna obdobja? In v kolikšni meri jih oblikujejo družbene norme? Naloga združuje literarno analizo, zgodovinski kontekst ter teorije o ljubezni po Sternbergu in Girardu, skupaj z mnenji bralcev_k, pridobljenimi prek anketnega vprašalnika. Osrednja teza naloge je, da ljubezenski trikotniki v literaturi niso zgolj orodje za ustvarjanje napetosti, temveč bralcem_kam omogočajo raziskovanje osebne svobode, izbire in vpliva družbenih pričakovanj.

• Keywords: saga Somrak, Prevzetnost in pristranost, Viharni vrh, ljubezenski trikotniki, Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Stephenie Meyer