Love is not the cause of despair; rather, it is the duality of love and hate

"...In Italy, a country very far away from us, people are still driven to despair by love." - Stendahl, in The Charterhouse of Parma

At this point in the novel, Stendahl is explaining the suicide of one of the main characters to his French audience.

However, he is also trying to justify his character's suicide by "blaming" love.

It is not love that drives the suicidal, nor does love motivate their path of self-destruction. Rather, it is the duality of love and hate which influences their life choices.


For the challenge is for people to resolve this duality sufficiently to live long, peaceful lives.