Characters of Love by Gerri Brousseau

Valentine's Day is next Tuesday, and it got me thinking about characters that we have come to think of as being synonymous with love or romance.  Cupid, of course, comes to mind, but besides him would you say Don Juan or perhaps Romeo would fit the bill?  What about the tortured soul of Cyrano de Bergerac?

Even with the mention of these lovers, there is one, for me, who comes to mind above all others.  He truly believes in l'amour and, in fact, he lives for it.  His quest for romancing the fairer sex is undaunted.  We all know him.  We all love him, and we all think he is simply adorable.  Who is this wonderful character … you ask.  It is none other than the hopelessly romantic Pepe le Pew.

From the moment he spies his lady, he knows it is love at first sight!  He pursues her undaunted by her constant attempts to spurn his attentions.  He knows what he wants and no matter how many times his lady fair squirms out of his heady embrace while he is smothering her with smooches, and no matter how much she runs from him, he scampers tirelessly after her.  After all, he knows she is merely "playing hard to get", which makes him want her all the more.

Never once does he consider giving up the chase, nor does the thought that he might be undesirable to her ever enter his mind.  Yet, much like poor Wyle Coyote never catches the Roadrunner, poor Pepe lives with unrequited love, constantly yearning to romance his lady fair.  Don't we all secretly wish he will one day capture her heart?

Who is your favorite character, whose name alone makes you think of love and romance?

Filed under: romance