Red String Theory
Once upon a time in ancient legend, Chinese Gods tied an invisible string around the pinky fingers of two people destined to meet.
photographer Tatiana Mason
stylist Elxavier Caldwell
journalist Jasmine Nolan
director Tatiana Mason
graphic designer Maci Wheeler
makeup artist Kali Gwaltney
models Zach Hausbeck, Jasmine Locklear, Jenna Nguyen and Sofia Serratos
photographer assist Madison Baldwin
stylist assist Ashley McDonald
The old tale of the ancient Chinese proverb shares how “an invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place and circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break” (Miquette, 2013). Love is a beautiful thing but can become very intense. It isn't easy to achieve, and most people don’t do it right the first time because we can confuse our minds to believe it’s love. The red string of fate works by removing the confusion between two people who are meant to become lovers. This myth was developed in Chinese culture and is used in Korean and Japanese cultures as well, but all three in unique ways. The story of “The Vow” is a beautiful tale that perfectly represents the red string theory.
The red string of fate is achieved when you are not seeking your loved one but by waiting until you’re connected to your person by an invisible string. “In the original Chinese myth, it is tied around both parties’ ankles, while in Japanese culture, it is bound from a male’s thumb to a female’s little finger and in Korean culture the red thread is thought to be tied around the little finger of both parties” (H.s, 2023). Each culture uses the myth of the great red string in different ways but all with the same meaning of being connected to your soulmate. The color red gives amazing worth in Chinese weddings and symbolizes a sense of happiness and prosperity. “According to Chinese legend, is the deity in charge of ‘the red thread’ is believed to be Yuè Xià Lǎorén (月下老人)" (H.s, 2023). Red is often placed at Chinese weddings because it is important to their culture.
The vows are the most remarkable thing about any wedding day. Everyone watches you in your best dress and sits back to listen closely and hear about your love for one another. They are words worth more than any dollar in the world; they mean the most to each individual and live with them forever. “I take you to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish excluding all others as long as we both shall live. With God as my witness, I give you my pledge" (Dickman, 2023). The vows showcase the amount of loyalty, compassion and care you have for your partner. A true example of the red string theory is Leo’s loyalty to his vows to Paige in “The Vow.”
“The Vow” is based on a true story about Leo and Paige, who are newlywed. On a snowy night in Chicago, they leave after a good time at the movie theatre. On their way home, Paige and Leo were rear-ended by a salt truck when stopped at the sign. The accident caused Paige to end up in the hospital with a serious head injury. Paige was left unconscious and, once awakened, was diagnosed with memory loss. Doctors were unsure of the duration of her injury. Paige was not able to remember who her husband Leo was. Her parents came to Chicago once they heard about the news, and Paige could not believe her eyes. She had not seen her parents since she and Leo got together. It took an unfortunate turn of events to rekindle the relationship of her parents.
The euphoric and giddy feeling that runs through your body and gives you butterflies is what keeps people together no matter what. Leo listened to his vows and stayed loyal to Paige through sicker or worse because he was absorbed in those feelings. Paige left the hospital with Leo, but once she realized she did not recognize anything in her condo, Paige decided to leave the home she created with him and go back with her family. Her parents’ house, which used to be her home, became home again as it was all she once knew. This left Leo heartbroken and eager to put in work to win her heart again. He is willing to go above measures when it comes to being with Paige because he adores his wife.
For the relationship to be genuine, it takes two people to fall in love and fight for it. Although Leo remembers everything about their love story, Paige does not. As much as Leo works hard to try to win Paige’s heart back, at the end of the day, it is up to Paige to gain those feelings back on her own. As the red string theory states, the string can tangle and stretch but it will never come undone or break. Even though Paige and Leo were going through a tough point in their relationship, their feelings did not fade. As I said before, relationships can be intense; they have tests and challenges and only the strong can survive them. Over time, their connection will spark again because their love was built with the fate of the invisible string.
Paige is still struggling with extreme memory loss, but each day, she falls in love with the things she once cared for while creating new versions of herself as well. One day in her room, she finds a menu card, the same one she wrote her wedding vows on. Reading those vows sparked a giddy, nervous feeling through Paige’s body and moved her deeply. Paige listened to her heart and feelings when meeting Leo at their regular café. They open up to each other, and Leo is pleased to see Paige is herself again and wants him back. Leo did not need to “put in work” to get Paige’s love back. Her love was always there and never left; she just needed to find it once again on her own. They leave the café together relieved, walking away arm in arm and pleased with each other’s presence.