- In the two narratives..

both Longus and Bergman present similar ideas that are approached in different manners
- The ideas that are explored extensively in both are the following: F, C, L (with L as an overarching umbrella
encompassing the other two)
Freedom & Nature
- D&C: the two are presented to the audience in an idyllic way (found at birth, covered in tokens) and are treated in a
good way despite their country/ pastoral upbringing- prob due to their situation of discovery at birth
- Nature is their teacher as they grow up, extremely impressionable, in the same way that Nature is their determinant
(nature is embodied by Eros (the gods))

- In D&C: Longus presents them in a special state, free of social control (as there is an absence of restrictions)
- Is freedom inherently determined from birth (by the natural world) or can it be manifested later on by the decisions we
make to create our own freedom? And if so, is true freedom the concept of being in a state that is free from any control
by institutions or authoritative powers, but being able to do what you want, when you want?

- M&H: Bergman outlines freedom (at the beginning) as the perceived freedom that they would achieve through
adolescent defiance against 1950s Stockholm societal norms (the institutional norms)
- M: grew up in a chaotic household w/ an alcoholic mom and siblings/ worked in a abusive work environment, she was
deprived of attention (hence her love of Hollywood movies.. fantasy)- H gave her that attention in their time together.
(Summer)
- H: household also in chaos, wanted to leave his job w/ cruel co-workers. Wanted stability, a good job, a good partner?
M suggestion to “run away together” sparked the idea of SHORT TERM freedom for the pair (but in the long run that
is only a fleeting fantasy) BOTH PERSONIFIED THE LACK OF FREEDOM IN EACH OTHERS LIVES
o M&H were dealt a bad hand, while D&C live within a nature contrived realm of simplicity, M&H move to try
to achieve freedom (able to buy/do what they want/ live how they want to) in a society that naturally exists in a
state that prevents them from doing so (their social standing)
Change-
- Throughout the two, there is emphasis on the seasons changing as a representation of young love (innocent) evolving
into love (more complex)
- Bergman builds on the ideas presented by Longus as he offers a more complex view of love with more variables..
Longus is more focused on presenting the idea of fluff love (the two only need each other then they will be happy)
Change in the seasons is indicative of the hardships and stages that people in love eventually move through (both L
and B allude to this)
- Spring=, Summer=, Fall=, Winter=, Spring again= (cyclical nature)
- Bergman displays a love more rooted in reality with dark backdrops/initial somber tone that contrasts the short and
fleeting SUMMER that Harry spends with Monika
- Change for D&C is slow and progressing (D&C are slow to move through the stages of love together as they are
learning as they go, scared, in pain, but also in bliss with one another)
- Change for M&H is much quicker and transient (as M quickly gets pregnant, they get married and move in together,
but she quickly gets frustrated by the change that occurs when they get separated- H and his job)
o M’s idea of love is more lustful than love (as she is arrested by the trauma of her childhood)
Love
- Big Q: Do Longus and Bergman know what love truly is?
- Both pairs see love differently/ what love should be
o Longus: Love is slow and determined by the natural world: nature will determine loves course- love must be
symmetrical and cannot be if asymmetrical (ie. Chloe and Dorcon: older man, lust not love, one sided;
imbalanced thus a certain EQUILIBRIUM needs to be achieved) (ie. D&C are EXACTLY the same: from
their birth and on)
 LONGUS= Love is balance (and will be achieved by the natural world)
 Love is instinctual for D&C (Lycaenium giving Daphnis a sexual lesson but Daphnis does not rush to
Chloe in fear of hurting her = love is slow)
 But the idea of anti-love (being unfaithful is learned in Bergman’s narrative- Lelle and M)
o Bergman: Love is symmetrical to an extent: what happens when one partner veers off in their own path?
 Separation as H leaves M (H is moving up in his career and is being self-fulfilled in achieving his
goals, but M is stagnant in not working/ has a newborn that she rejects)
 M’s perception of love is not same as H’s (Lust=/=Love == Asymmetrical)
- Both narratives present very erotic and sexualized teen love that are navigating love and its mysteries