First Place Oral Presentation Category
Student: Evan Bannon
Advisor: Dr. Kara Stone
This presentation analyzes the strength and stability of friends-to-lovers relationships compared to standard romantic relationships. Consulting the realistic development of Achilles and Patroclus’ bond in Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles and research from academic journals and bibliographies, this analysis attempts to demonstrate the stronger and longer lasting bonds of a friends-to-lovers relationship. The importance of early commonalities and familiarity in forming this connection is used to highlight the methodical buildup of a solid foundation for these relationships. Discussions of sacrifice and a confession of love are introduced to display the heightened positive emotions of these relationships that achieve greater heights due to a previously established foundation. An effective use of conflict resolution is also mentioned to demonstrate the positives of its proper usage as well as its easy implementation in friends-to-lovers relationships because of the familiarity forged during friendship. Implications from the evidence gathered suggest that friends-to-lovers relationships have superior strength and stability compared to more common romantic relationships due to the foundation and connections formed in friendship.