The ancient Greek philosopher Plato was the founder of many interesting theories. Including the existence of several forms of love. He considered the most significant of these feelings that did not include bodily attraction. Since then they have received the name "platonic love."
Love
By and large, platonic relations are a direct answer to the question: "Is
friendship between a man and a woman possible
?" According to the generally accepted opinion, in any
gender relations there is a shade of eroticism, hidden sexuality. And if representatives of the opposite sex, close in age, communicate closely, often see each other, then there is “something to eat” between them. Let's see how this suspicion is true. Recall the times of the Middle Ages, chivalry. Beautiful ladies, minstrels, and elevated ballads come to mind, in which the service of a woman was chanted. This example perfectly describes the platonic relationship. This is ideal love, living in hearts for many years, in which there is no hint of physical intimacy. Her synonym is knightly love. A man went to war, often leaving his passion for more than one year. The lady promised to wait for him, made a vow of fidelity, and a man swore with her. People have remained true to the word for a long time. They could lead a free sexual life, but they did not let anyone into their hearts.
Platonic love in faces
Or such an example of the concept of “platonic relations”: this is the connection between the great Russian classic of our literature Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev and the talented French opera singer Polina Viardot. The story of their acquaintance is known to us from the school bench. And one can only be surprised at the immeasurable share of respect that these people had for each other and for their feelings, which gave them the willpower not to stoop to a banal affair. This is what
true love-friendship, love-cooperation, love-support looks like
. Viardot’s husband, a well-known Parisian composer and
public figure, did a lot to popularize Russian literature and, in particular, the work of Turgenev himself. Naturally, it was not a secret for him what exactly the writer was experiencing with Pauline. But their platonic relationship is the embodiment of correctness and purity, and Louis Viardot joyfully and gladly received Ivan Sergeyevich in his house, supported him in difficult times of life, considered him a member of his family. And Turgenev did not deceive his trust! He considered the children of Viardot almost his children. The daughter of the writer, who was born from a serf peasant woman, grew up and was brought up in the French family - in her homeland, in Russia, she was illegitimate! That is what it means to love a woman platonically! And combine personal, intimate feelings with the ability to be friends! Speaking of historical figures, one cannot help but recall Marina Tsvetaeva and her “novels in verses” with the German poet Rilke and the Russian Boris Pasternak. Rilke and Tsvetaeva never met in person. She met with Pasternak a few years later, after active written communication. But both loved passionately and passionately - as the Poet of another Poet can love, Talent in its most vivid manifestation. With all this, she more than anything in the world valued her husband,
Sergei Efron, and laid down her life in order to be with him. Therefore, platonic feelings are also the kinship of souls, the joy of communication, the closeness of inner worlds.
Perfect love in literary works
Our literature is wonderful literature. If you raise the theme of ideal, high love, for which neither time nor distance is an obstacle, then the legendary “Garnet Bracelet” by Kuprin comes to mind. The small telephone operator Zheltkov was capable of a great spiritual feat. For many years he loves Princess Vera - without a hint of reciprocity, without any claims or claims. He loves and worships - like a Madonna, like a saint. Here it is, the highest manifestation of feeling! Here they are - a truly platonic relationship!