Elective Affinities
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Elective Affinities (originally Die Wahlverwandtschaften in German) is an 1809 novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
In early Nineteenth century chemistry, the phrase "elective affinities" was used to describe compounds that only interacted with each other under select circumstances. Goethe used this as an organizing metaphor for marriage, and for the conflict between responsibility and passion. When first published, it was considered controversial for questioning the institution of marriage, and in some ways was a precursor of Ibsen's A Dolls House.
The story involves two men (Edward and Otto) and two women (Carlotta and Ottlia) and their various longings and infidelities.
It was filmed in 1996 by director Paolo Taviani, as Le affinità elettive. It also served as the inspiration for the 1982 Francis Ford Coppola film One from the Heart.
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