In a post on Writer Unboxed, Heather Webb examines why toxic relationships are such juicy fodder for fiction writers and readers. She suggests a few reasons:
- Fascination. As an audience, we wonder how long someone can put up with fights, cheating, jealousy, stress, and embarrassment before they give up, and what they’ll learn from the experience.
- Sympathy. Characters struggle to do their best. Even in a bad relationship, there may not be one person to blame. You may have two characters doing their best, but unable to fix their lives.
- Control and Balance. “Toxic relationships thrive on an imbalance of power, even if that imbalance is imagined,” Webb says. “Don’t we all love watching an underdog come into their own? To see them best the one on top or the oppressor? I admire those who can restore the balance to their lives, and I absolutely root for these characters to come into their own.” This kind of writing can be cathartic and empowering for people going through similar struggles.
