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In literature and art, the motif of a genuine love spell is interwoven more often, and made the starting point of tragic setbacks and complications.
One of the earliest manifestations of the theme in the Western world is the story of Heracles and Deianeira.
A famous treatment of the subject is in Richard Wagner's opera Tristan and Isolde, which in turn goes back to the same epic by Gottfried von Strassburg.
Other examples of the use of love magic motif are Donizetti's The Elixir of Love (L'Elisir d'amore) and Manuel de Falla's ballet El amor brujo (The magic of love).
Love Magic was seen as drawing “…heavily upon what was perceived as quintessentially feminine: fertility, birth, menstruation (seen as closely related to both fertility and birth), and a woman’s ‘nature’ or ‘shameful parts,’ that is, genitals.”
This feminine attribute is reflected within the literature such as the Malleus Maleficarum, and in the trials of the Holy Office in which most of the cases brought before the council were women accused of bewitching men. This illustrates the common stereotype that men did not do magic.
Love magic in literature often serves as a powerful and enchanting element that adds depth to narratives. Here are a few ways it manifests:
Love magic is used to enhance romantic relationships.
Love magic is used to fix relationship conflict
Love magic can symbolize transformation and growth within characters or relationships.
Literature often explores the ethical implications of using love magic.
Love magic sometimes leads to tragic outcomes
Examples of literature featuring love magic include Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," where Oberon and Puck's magical interventions cause romantic chaos among the characters, and J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, which includes various forms of love magic, such as love potions and the sacrificial protection of a mother's love.
Love magic can take many forms in literature, but its presence almost always adds intrigue, complexity, and emotional depth to the story.
