Platonic Relationship

History lesson!

Back in Renaissance Italy, the humanist scholars revived the Greek philosopher Plato's idea of love, coining the term "Platonic Love". While now it can sometimes be used in a negative light, it was once considered the purest form of love. It was love free of lust which, in the eyes of the humanists, made it holier than love that involved sex.

Nowadays I've noticed how much emphasis there is on sex in relationships. Every close relationship is shipped together as romantic, even siblings. John and Sherlock, Dean and Castiel, even Anna and Elsa.

But I uphold that there is still something special in the platonic relationship. The idea of "I may not be sleeping with you, but I would still die for you" adds depth to every story. Are there any of these type of relationships in yours? How do you go about creating that type of relationship? Or do you like beginning the story with those types?

I love the idea of a platonic relationships and I don't like the emphasis on sex we have now days. 

I think my characters Maerwynn and Rainulf have such a relationship. They care deeply for each other and Rainulf would literally die for her if it meant she would be safe. Maerwynn also would go through great lengths to protect Rainulf if the need arose, but he wouldn't let her die for him. 

I don't know how I would go about creating that type of relationship. The relationship between Maerwynn and Rainulf was there from the beginning. As well as the relationships between Oliver and Emmeline, and Oliver and Abelard. Rainulf would also die for Heliarde, but he is a bit of a protector and sees himself as a guardian for Maerwynn and Heliarde. 
Maybe Oliver and Rainulf create such a relationship as well. I can see them getting to know each other well and caring for each other deeply. But i don't know he would actually die for Oliver. If he dies for Oliver it would be because he knows Oliver and Maerwynn are in love and he knows he will try to keep her safe. So in the end he still dies for Maerwynn. 

So I would say the strongest relationship I have overall are the platonic ones between Maerwynn and Rainulf and between Oliver and Emmeline. Yes Oliver and Maerwynn develop a romance, but they wont acknowledge their feelings until the end when Oliver almost looses Maerwynn. 

To conclude, I think the best way to let a platonic relationship develop, if you don't start with it, is to let it develop naturally. Don't force it on the characters and let them take their time. It takes a while for such a strong relationship to develop. Even if the characters like (in the non sexual way) each other from the beginning when they meet and get along very well it takes time to deepen and develop their relationship. (So apparently I do know how to go about creating a relationship like this. Or at least how such a relationship develops. I use these kind of posts very often to think. So, what I write down is actually more like a train of thought)

I agree with not liking the emphasis on sex. And thanks for the history lesson I love learning something new and interesting.

I have a couple of books that have platonic relationships, but I don't think they qualify as it's the relationship between body guard and VIP (VIP being an assassin).

But I have a couple of relationships in my other books that have genuine platonic relationships. A platonic relationship between sisters, many platonic relationships between a friendship group (one of whom was cursed) and I think the vampire and phoenix might have a platonic relationship at the end of the book I'm revising (they surprisingly become best friends after lots of relationship development).

I guess when it comes to the sibling relationships, similar to Katniss and Primrose, my books begin with this platonic love.

Otherwise, I show the natural developments of these platonic relationships throughout my books and my characters have a really strong friendship at the end. When it comes to my most recent book (the one with the proactive villain), I showed how they all became friends with each other and the group dynamics as this friendship. The group became closer when one member (character A) was cursed. They banded together, became closer as a result of this curse, willing to sacrifice themselves for each other and to defeat the proactive antagonist. Even though a member (character B) of that group disliked Character A, Character A would die for Character B and vice versa... It's a complicated relationship between Character A and Character B...

I'm asexual so I'm on board with platonic stuff. (Although I need Destiel canon like five years ago.)

For example, Idun with both her friends. I have no doubt people will ship them anyway, but they have no romantic relations. They grew up together.

Also, my Duncan (for now) and his mage brother. It's extremely close and protective but completely innocent.

Goraidh and Raina, too. It would be easy for two co-Dragons to have an Unholy Matrimony, or to be rivals, but until the endgame, they are friends who respect each other.

Also, Briar is platonic with everyone, mainly because she's barely 16 and not interested for now. Later in life, she'll see. Medieval or not, I like my little elf innocent.

I'm not sure whether Anastas will get physical with Cordelia - he has an angel aboard, it could get weird. But they are definitely romancing.