Nothing Gold Can Stay

You know the poem. Though Frost's words can be interpreted in a variety of ways, I choose now to specifically focus on loss of innocence. By nature of the fact that we are human, forming relationships is a necessity. While making connections with those around us is easier for some of us, and harder for others, we still try our best to relate to those we come in contact with. Relationships come in a variety of shapes and colors, so to speak. Romantic. Friendly. Familial. And I won't be the first person, by a long shot, to say that relationships are complicated. Just examine Shakespeare's plays. It is because of the complexity of human nature that we have literary works created with the intention of being social commentaries.

Recently, I read the novel One Day by David Nicholls. It was beautifully romantic and heart-breaking, yet simultaneously a slice-of-life novel in the most literal sense. Nicholls’ story is not a fairy tale or a fantasy, but an intimate, objective look at the various incarnations that love can take on in our lives.
What I found interesting was that Nicholls drew a great amount of inspiration from the works of Thomas Hardy, whose novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles I have to read for AP Lit. He even quotes Tess before one of the sections of One Day (the book is divided into the various stages of the characters’ lives - i.e. Early Twenties, Late Twenties, etc.).

Hardy's purpose in writing Tess was to express his thoughts on the hypocritical sexual morals of the Victorian Era.  Likewise, One Day is a look at modern sexual morals (and more generally speaking, the intricate relationship between the sexes). In the 21st century, innocence is regarded more slackly than it was in Hardy's time. Now, we are "corrupted" by the media (well, by the internet, more-so than by other sources). Our world moves at a much faster pace than Tess'. Experience was once the key "corrupting" force in one's life, and to in extent, it still is. However, with social media and near-instant communication, there is an almost palpable need to grow up more quickly. Once "innocent" infatuation was okay; now, we're all but pressured to feel desire, to want it...to need it.

Let me be clear: There is a difference between romance and naivete. In today's world it may be practically impossible to live without a constant barrage of "SEX SEX SEX," but that doesn't mean we have to give in to it. Knowledge is fine, but the pressure, in a sense, is one of our own making. Our status does not perpetually have to be "taken." Love enters our lives when it wishes too, often when we need it. I'm not getting into fate or destiny or anything like that. All I'm saying is that we should embrace it when it appears, but we don't have to breathlessly run after it, or even after its semblance.

While Nicholls' characters Dex and Em essentially ended up in a romantic game of cat and mouse, they ultimately ended up together, despite their ups and downs. And we all have our ups and downs. As it is in our nature to form relationships, it is also in our nature to be resilient. Life will throw curve balls, and one day, any day, the surprise will be love.