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Love, although It won't be Returned

It is interesting to note that most love stories described love as a rather selfish thing. In the least, they make the border between love and selfishness a thin one.
To keep the argument short, let me restrict the context of this article. I had just finished watching the whole series of the anime Magic Knight Rayearth. The discussion will be around the series, although no knowledge about the series is needed.

Magic Knight Rayearth (let's call it MKR for short) has an "exceptional" story plot. The first season, serving as an introduction, still found some time in most episodes to deliver messages. I found it appropriate to the situation I was in at that time: self-crisis during exam season.

As one of my teachers, the Wizard of (:|:), said, a message which applies to one's life is the message needed by that particular individual. He or she will find the message very meaningful, even though others might consider the same message commonplace.
In short, I was impressed by the first season. Moreover, it concluded with an open ending. I put high expectations at the second season. It was quite a disappointment to find that the sideplots tend to develop more and more toward a kind of love story.

But we have to make the most from what we get, don't we? This disappointment soon changed back into interest. See the line given to one of the semi-antagonists in the last episode:

Even if it's not returned, for the person you love...

In the article Polymorphism of Love, I mentioned some forms of love. Is it not true that love makes a person willing to do anything for the ones he or she loves, although the love might not be returned? Love is not demanding the ones we love to do things for us, but demanding ourselves to do things for those we love.

Parents bring up their children without expectations for anything in return. The joy of watching children grow up is more than adequate a reward to parents.
Friends shouldn't cry in sadness on separation, as long as they follow their their own chosen paths. If we think about it, what really is the sadness in separating with a friend? The fact that we cannot see our friend again? Is this not selfish?
Which would you find more satisfactory:

  • feeling happy because your friend achieved his or her dream
  • feeling content because you see your friend everyday.

    An important footnote:
    People are usually more sentimental than they should be when it is about love. We should remember that love is only one aspect among so many others in life.

    (More) footnote for those who have watched MKR to the end:
    It is probably appropriate for the audience to let Eagle Vision go when his FTO was blasted by Lady Debonair.
    The reason is that his goal was to actively living his life rather than passively waiting for his death as his sickness grew worse and worse. He also wanted to die in a battle in his FTO, so isn't this the end he wanted?

    Still, I felt terrible when Eagle said his final line.

    Any follow-ups, comments or objections to my view?
    Contact me: at comp dot nus dot edu dot sg with dennyisk before the at

    Last edited: Saturday, 9 June 2001
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