What is love?
In this first episode of English and Beyond: Intermediate Podcast, Oliver explores the theme of love - what it means, how it’s shaped by culture and history, and why it can feel so confusing. Perfect for intermediate English learners, this episode reflects on romantic ideals, personal relationships, and evolving social expectations. With references to literary couples, ancient mythology, and modern sociologists like Anthony Giddens and Zygmunt Bauman, it’s a thought-provoking look at how love has changed over time and how we experience it today. Includes a transcript and flashcards to boost vocabulary.
What Is Love? Exploring the Meaning of Love Through Culture, History, and Language
Love. It’s a word we use all the time, and yet - what does it really mean?
For many of us, love feels like the most natural thing in the world. We fall in love, we dream of finding “the one,” and we’re surrounded by messages that say love is the ultimate goal. But what if that idea of love isn’t quite as universal - or as timeless - as we think?
In the first episode of the intermediate edition of English and Beyond, we explore how love is shaped by culture, history, and society. This is not just a topic for Valentine’s Day - it’s something that touches every human being and every language learner.
Why Love Feels So Personal (and So Confusing)
Love is an incredibly personal emotion. One person may feel love as a warm and steady comfort; another may experience it as intense, dramatic passion. But many of us also carry confusion and uncertainty about our emotions. Is this really love? Should it feel this way?
These questions are especially common when our relationships don’t follow the traditional pattern. In many cultures, we are told there is a correct order to love: fall in love, move in together, get married, have children. But life is rarely that simple.
Sometimes we don’t follow this “script,” and when we don’t, we can feel judged. Why don’t you live with your partner? Why aren’t you married yet? Why don’t you have children? This pressure to conform can feel overwhelming - and it can make us question ourselves even when we are happy.
Is Love Natural or Cultural?
One of the most interesting questions discussed in the episode is this: is love natural, or is it a social construct?
Some philosophers, like Dario Sztajnszrajber, argue that love is not a universal feeling - it is an idea that has been constructed by society. According to this view, the image of two people in a romantic, exclusive, lifelong relationship is not “natural,” but something that developed in a specific time and place: the modern Western world.
This doesn’t mean love is fake. It means that how we experience it - and what we expect from it - is shaped by our culture. In other parts of the world, or in different historical periods, love looked very different. Arranged marriages, child marriages, and courtly love (where knights wrote poetry for noblewomen) were all examples of different cultural norms about love.
So if your way of loving doesn’t look like the movies, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It just means it’s different.
A Quick Journey Through the History of Love
To really understand love, we can look at how it has changed over time:
In ancient mythology, love was powerful, magical, and often dangerous. Think of Eros and Psyche, whose love required great sacrifices.
In the Middle Ages, marriage was more about money, alliances, and family power than emotions.
During the time of courtly love, knights wrote songs and poems to express their admiration - but often never touched the women they loved.
In the 19th century, love started to become linked with marriage and family life - but still with strict rules about gender roles and morality.
Today, love is changing again. Sociologist Anthony Giddens talks about “confluent love” - a new model of relationships based on equality, independence, and mutual satisfaction. But these relationships don’t always last forever.
Meanwhile, Zygmunt Bauman, in his book Liquid Love, argues that love today is often temporary, fragile, and shaped by our fast-moving world.
So what does this mean for us? It means that there has never been just one way to love. And that’s okay.
Why This Topic Matters for Language Learners
As English learners, talking about love can be a powerful way to learn vocabulary, expressions, and grammar. But more than that, it’s a way to reflect on what matters most to us as people.
When you talk about love, you’re not just practising English. You’re sharing stories. You’re expressing your values. You’re learning how other cultures understand something as personal and emotional as love.
Final Thoughts: There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Love
Whether you’ve been in love once, many times, or never at all - your experience is valid. And if you’ve ever felt like your way of loving doesn’t match what society expects, you’re not alone.
Love is complicated. It’s emotional. It’s human. And above all - it evolves.
We hope this episode encourages you not only to practise English but also to reflect on how love has shaped your life, your relationships, and your way of seeing the world.