Romance and Ravishment stories

[PaperDummy]

So I couldn't sleep, and I was thinking.
In a lot of erotic romances, the love interest rapes the main character, or at least attempts to rape her (which officially began in 1740 with Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded, but I would say that it's as old as ancient times, since Hades raped and kidnapped Persephone and the two still end up having a happy marriage, or Sun, Moon, and Talia from 1634 aka the Italian version of Sleeping Beauty where she is raped by the prince while she is asleep). We have all seen at least the cover of one of those old bodice rippers. I know that real life does not work like that, but I still got a few questions.

What is the common opinion on stories like this? And what would make a story like this work, or what could ruin it?

I personally like them, but it's really up to execution.
Also, I think forced proximity is the thing that could make this work. In my opinion. Like the love intrest kidnaps her (see Hades and Persephone). Or forced/arranged marriage maybe? Either way. A situation where the two have no other option than to interact with each other.

[AdmiralPiet]

What is the common opinion on stories like this? And what would make a story like this work, or what could ruin it?

In my opinion you already said it well with:

it's really up to execution.

I think it depends on the setting.

If you write a more realistic story, especially one set in our current time it would be very odd if the victim would then fall for her rapist without any explanation why.

But if you build it up well.

Like you said: Forced marriage (see Daenerys Targaryen in ASOIAF) could work.

Kidnapping is a bit more tricky I once read a book (forgot the Name, Dragons Kiss or something) where a Dragon (that can take human form) kidnaps his love interest another dragon. It is written that stuff like that is not that uncommon among dragons, but it was very cheesy.

Never read one of those old bodice rippers. But I guess the women in those are characterised as wanting to be taken from the beginning. So while it is rape, they are not really a "victim" as they got what they really wanted. Might be wrong though.
I guess you could take that to a higher level, or deep down into cheesy hell.

There is a fucked up story in there: The man desires the woman, and she him but she only teases and rejects him. Because she wants him to snap and rape her. To her it is the fulfilment of a fantasy, to him it is commiting a heinous act.

More reasons to make this work:
Victim could have some phychic problems.
How about the rapist being stalked by his victim because she wants more and he just wants to get away from the crazy bitch?

Similar to the forced marriage you could write a world where society expects women to be very subservient.
Best way to go through life is to just accept it.

Or victims could tell themselves that they are happy and in love because that is easier than to accept reality.

Lots of approaches, but all very depended on how well it is executed

[Claire]

What is the common opinion on stories like this? And what would make a story like this work, or what could ruin it?

I think that depens on what you mean by making it work? If you mean that I actually root for them as a couple, ship them together, then I would consider that almost impossible. I could imagine a scenario where a man is maybe forced to rape a woman at gun point or whatever and after they both survive the situation somehow, they develop a bond over that. But if he genuinely raped her out of selfish desire, I don't think you could do anything to make them work for me as a couple.

That being said, maybe your goal isn't to make the reader root for them as a couple, but to depict the disturbing psychology behind reinterpreting the event into an act love to make it more endurable for the victim. I think then the story could work by creating that uncomfortable eerieness.

[VictimEyes]

For me, that's a tough sale.

It would take nothing short of an absolutely flawless and concise execution to make this reader believe that a rapist can "fuck me until I fall in love with him".

[PaperDummy]

Similar to the forced marriage you could write a world where society expects women to be very subservient.
Best way to go through life is to just accept it.

Strangely enough, I'm currently working on two stories like this. It's a pretty good explanation on, why this could work in a story (both in the dub and non-con category).

(Sorry, if this response sounds stupid.)

[Vela Nanashi]

I don't think it sounds stupid, but it can be very hard to do that realistically, but also we do not have to write realistic, there are some fantasies out there that appeals to some of us.

[RapeU]

It's actually not as hard as you would think. Stockholm Syndrome is a legitimate psychological phenomenon. Focus on the psychology of it, and you can make it work.

Incidentally, Lima Syndrome, which is the reverse of Stockholm Syndrome, is also something that exists and would make a good story if the psychology aspect is used well.

[AdmiralPiet]

I don't think it sounds stupid, but it can be very hard to do that realistically, but also we do not have to write realistic, there are some fantasies out there that appeals to some of us.

The spectrum is actually pretty wide.
From Stories that are written rather realistically and delve more into disturbing/heart-wrenching rather than hot
To the other end where the rape victims biggest problem is the strain of cumming for an hour nonstop...

All possible, all legitimate as long as it entertains the author and audience.

It's actually not as hard as you would think. Stockholm Syndrome is a legitimate psychological phenomenon. Focus on the psychology of it, and you can make it work.

Incidentally, Lima Syndrome, which is the reverse of Stockholm Syndrome, is also something that exists and would make a good story if the psychology aspect is used well.

Actually it is quite hard. The Stockholm Syndrome is something everyone seems to know about, but is actually pretty far off the mark.
It is not an scientifically recognised syndrome (No ICD-11 classification) and the evidence is pretty thin.

Also: In the few instances that are there it is not as extreme as a victim falling madly in love with her rapist.
The original case from Stockholm seemed to have been the victims of a hostage situation being uncommonly sympathetic with their kidnappers.

Resons for that can be:
It is a high stress situation that can drag on for hours or days.
If the perpetrators do something out of desperation that can surely cause sympathy from the victims.
If they treat everyone well (or as much as possible under the circumstances) that effect is increased.
There have been cases where criminals acted calm and collected, friendly, charming, making sure not to cause more harm than absolutely neccessary to attain their goal (money for example). On the other hand law enforcement sometimes is overwhelmed by such situations. They may lack training or expertise and act rash and agressive. Victims may percieve the Police a greater threat to their health than the criminals.

[Lucius]

...
I think it depends on the setting.

If you write a more realistic story, especially one set in our current time it would be very odd if the victim would then fall for her rapist without any explanation why.

But if you build it up well.

Like you said: Forced marriage (see Daenerys Targaryen in ASOIAF) could work.
...

An arranged marriage or a relationship with an extreme power imbalance could work for the purposes of a story, especially in a historical or fantasy setting. There is a sizeable market for billionaire (mob boss, sheikh etc.)/reluctant girl books set in our days, I think, but not my cup of tea.