Beloved

This question on the limits of love is put tot he test in the story of Beloved by Toni Morrison. Sethe is a mother who only wants to keep her children safe. In an effort to protect them from the horrors of slavery Sethe slits the throat of her baby daughter. "So Denver took her mother's milk right along with the blood of her sister." Out of love she murders her own child. Some may question if this is actually an act of love or cold blooded murder. Sethe loved her daughter so much that she killed her in order to protect her form a monstrous life in chains. Placing all on the line for love, Sethe stepped over all the boundaries. Many die for love but few kill their love. Later in the story Sethe's daughter, Beloved, comes back in the form of a grown woman. She wants Sethe, she wants her mothers face. Beloved's form of love towards her mother morphs into viscous desire. "She is the one. She is the one I need. You can go but she is the one I have to have." This desire sprouts in to a disturbing mother daughter relationship. Sethe withers away attempting to please Beloved. In this case, love was not your typical sappy romantic comedy ending. Love murdered and destroyed. It came in like a tornado devastating everything in its path.

The Stranger

The Stranger by Albert Camus is a story revolving around the life of Meursault. Meursault is a unique character, he does not seem to have any connection to his emotions and is indifferent about all aspects of his life. After his mothers death, Meursault keeps vigil over his mother’s body. He smokes a cigarette, drinks coffee, and dozes off, not once stating any feeling of sadness or shedding one tear. Meursault has a relationship with a co-worker,Marie. This is not your typical relationship Meursault does not seem to care about Marie, the only instance of emotion toward her is when he says "I wanted her." She asks Meursault if he loves her, and he replies that “it didn’t mean anything,” but probably not. An abrupt murder takes place when Meursault kills an Arab he comes across on the beach. He is thrown into jail and his His lawyer seems disgusted at Meursault’s lack of remorse over his crime, and most of all at Meursault’s lack of anguish at his mother’s funeral.Meursault does not put a limit on what he would do for love because he does not really feel love. Most people spend their life listening to love songs, watching romantic comedies and dreaming about Mr. right. Love is all around us, and people want to feel this love. Meursault is different because he simply does not care. He does not yearn to take flight on the wings of love. He is indifferent and expresses minimal emotions and does not even care or desire love.

Henry IV

In Henry IV prince Harry is struggling to earn the love of his father, King Henry. King Henry wishes that Hotspur was his son instead of Harry who is known for canoodling in taverns, drinking with criminals and conducting himself in a way not fit for royalty. Seeking his fathers approval, Harry decides that it is time to change, he promises he will abandon his unprincely ways and vanquish Hotspur in a battle to earn his father's love. Drafting his tavern friends Harry joins his father on the battlefront as they face the eruption of a civil war. In the battle at Shrewsbury, Harry bravely saves his father's life and finally wins his father's love and approval. Harry also defeats Hotspur as a final effort to earn king Henry's affection. Everyone searches for love. It is human nature to want to be loved. This love is not always in the form of romance. A parents love is something every child deserves to have, that Harry did not. To answer the question, Harry does not set a limit on what he will do to have his father's love. He changes his life, joins the army and defeats his enemy, all in the name of love.