Eros is Bittersweet

The title of the book "Eros: The Bittersweet" denotes its primary theme. Carson argues that the nature of Eros, or love, is that it is bittersweet. The sweetness or pleasure of love is obvious: it is wonderful to be in love and in many cases being in love is one of the most meaningful and sought after occurrences in modern (and perhaps ancient) life. The lover yearns for the beloved and hopefully receives that yearning in return.

However, Eros has a shadow, or a dark side that manifests in several ways. First, the lover confronts a space between her and the beloved that cannot be traversed for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact of their separate bodies and minds. Second, the lover's ideal image of the loved is always greater than the loved herself. Thus, Eros brings disappointment. In this way, the...