Trope Breakdown | Enemies to Lovers
Welcome to Trope Breakdown, a series that will focus on common literary tropes and feature my opinions on whether the tropes are overdone or can still be salvaged. I’ll also include a few of my favorite (and least favorite) examples and you can share yours in the comments below!
The first trope I’ll be looking at is the enemies to friends/enemies to lovers character arc. Two people meet and are initially repelled by each other, but over the course of the story, they find things in common and build a beautiful relationship together – growth!
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a classic (literally) example of this trope. Generations of people have swooned over Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s slow-burn romance as they learn to get along with each other and eventually fall in love. The social commentary in Austen’s novel still holds true, and it offers hope that people from different backgrounds can overcome their socialized biases and move forward together.
Ibi Zoboi’s modern interpretation of the classic, Pride, reimagines Austen’s world and frames the story in the context of gentrification in a Brooklyn neighborhood, with the added lenses of race and Afro-Latin culture. The main characters grapple with the class divide between them and the stereotypes society places on them that they also judge each other by. Even though the narrative is wrapped up a little too nicely for my liking, I enjoyed seeing Zuri and Darius bond over shared values and a defiance toward their circumstances.
Photo courtesy of Scholastic
For a more platonic example, Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman has Crowley, a demon, and an angel, Aziraphale, as they try to prevent the Apocalypse. As angels and demons are naturally opposed to each other, the two do not enjoy each other’s company. However, they do enjoy being among humans on Earth, so they form a grudging alliance. Their banter throughout is excellent, amplified by the fact that they’ve known each other for centuries. For those of us who have given up on reading longer novels lately (no judgement), Good Omens is also a TV series on Amazon Prime Video.
Photo courtesy of BBC America
However, not everyone gets it right. I’ve set several books down for their take on this trope because the relationship felt too rushed or the setup felt incomplete. Authors like to allude that the main characters like each other deep down and have to get comfortable with admitting that, but in the meantime, they treat each other horribly. Any good relationship has to have respect from both parties, and some books don’t get that across very clearly.
Final Verdict: Usually done well – a personal favorite! Pride and Prejudice was one of the first classics I ever read, so it has a soft spot in my heart.
What do you think? Are you sick of this trope or is it one of your favorites? Comment down below and feel free to add your own examples!