Genre Application: Romance - Pride and Prejudice
The Hook (Two Sentences)
“A woman who prides herself on wit meets a man too proud to see past prejudice. Can love survive when first impressions are exactly wrong?”
Romance requires two lies that perfectly oppose yet complement.
The Core Paragraph (Five Sentences with Connections)
Elizabeth Bennet believes she can judge character at first sight (lie). THEREFORE when Darcy insults her, she writes him off as irredeemable. BUT Darcy’s actions reveal depth she refused to see. THEREFORE she must question all her judgments, including about Wickham. BUT only by both abandoning their pride can they find love.
Character Foundations
Elizabeth Bennet
- The Wound: Society dismisses her for lack of fortune
- The Lie: “My wit protects me from hurt”
- The Mask: The sharp-tongued independent
- The Want: To marry for love, not money
- The Need: To see past her own prejudices
- The Engine: Her pride blinds her to truth
Fitzwilliam Darcy
- The Wound: Used for his wealth and position
- The Lie: “Superior birth means superior worth”
- The Mask: The cold, proud aristocrat
- The Want: A wife who matches his station
- The Need: To value character over class
- The Engine: His prejudice creates enemies
Conflict Grid
| Character | Their Lie | Conflict with Others |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | “I see people clearly” | Darcy’s depths are hidden |
| Darcy | “Class equals worth” | Elizabeth’s worth transcends class |
But/Therefore/Meanwhile in Action
Romance requires parallel transformation arcs that intersect:
- Darcy insults Elizabeth THEREFORE she despises him
- BUT she attracts him despite “inferior” connections
- THEREFORE he proposes insultingly
- BUT she rejects him with brutal honesty
- THEREFORE he writes letter explaining himself
- MEANWHILE she discovers Wickham’s lies
- BUT realizing she misjudged Darcy hurts her pride
- THEREFORE both must change to meet as equals
Why This Romance Works
Structure: Each beat forces both characters to grow Character: Their flaws perfectly trigger each other Momentum: Love is impossible until both transform
The romance works because their lies prevent what they both want—true partnership. Only truth enables love.
Key Romance Applications
- Opposing Lies: Design character lies that clash perfectly
- Dual Transformation: Both must change, not just one
- Meanwhile Hearts: Internal change happens between meetings
- Truth Enables Love: Real love requires authentic selves
Romance lives in the tension between the masks we wear and the hearts beneath. The genre demands two parallel But/Therefore chains that merge into one.