From Normal People ’s Connell Waldron to My Year of Rest and Relaxation ’s narrator, from Bucky Barnes in Marvel fanfics to Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender redemption arcs, audiences cannot get enough of characters who are damaged but not destroyed.

If this article has piqued your interest, you likely want to read the chapter yourself. Here is a strategy guide for locating and appreciating this work:

The interplay between protection and vulnerability is another key theme in Chapter 1. BOG suggests that the human heart has a tendency to oscillate between protection and vulnerability, and that it is precisely this tension that allows us to experience the full range of human emotions. The author's use of philosophical insights and personal anecdotes is helpful here, as they illustrate the ways in which our hearts are constantly negotiating between protection and vulnerability.

. As he takes her in during a raging storm, the contrast between the brothers becomes clear:

The title Broken Hearts Still Want to Love is a masterclass in emotional contradiction. Let’s break it down: