Authors: Rovy M. Banguis, Ph.D., Shandylou B. Omongos, and Adelyn C. Pino
Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences, Mindanao State University-Buug, Philippines
Email: rovy.banguis@msubuug.edu.ph.
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to find out the essence of love and how these languages of love were used by the characters in the novel “Me Before You”
and their effects to human relationships. The novel was written by the renowned writer, Jojo Moyes and was considered as the New York’s best selling novel in 2012. This study utilized formalistic approach and Chapman’s theory on the Five Languages of Love (1992). Based on the findings of
the study, the researchers concluded that: the expressions of love that are evident in the novel “Me Before You” are: (1) words of affirmation, (2)
physical touch, (3) quality time (4) acts of service and (5) receiving gifts. Moreover, the most evident love language is the word of affirmation as it
was used for twenty-six times by the characters in the novel.The characters revealed the expressions of love through words, gestures, attention, care
and time. It is on this milieu that love is considered as the very important aspect in our lives to free us from sadness and to give us reason to continue
living. Hence, the absence of love gives imbalance to our daily emotion. The author used the characters to reveal the different expressions of love that
arouse us to the reality of love. It raises mindful thinking to the readers for the kind of future brings in their lives when they choose to love someone
unconditionally.
Keywords: love languages, acts of service, physical touch, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time