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So many of our A-Level Literature texts revolve around feelings of love and obsession. But, what actually is the difference between love and obsession? In the fourth of our 2000trees 2025 series, Julia Wolf’s going to help us figure out how to spot that line between commitment and fixation!!

What do we mean by love and obsession?

Love is a complex and deeply human emotion that can be described in many ways, depending on the context—romantic, familial, platonic, or even self-love. At its core, love involves a strong sense of connection, care, and affection toward someone or something. It requires mutual respect, communication, and growth. Over time, the intense passion may mellow, and deeper forms of love (like companionate love) may emerge. Healthy romantic love supports autonomy as well as connection—you don’t lose yourself in it.

Obsession, however, is an intense, persistent focus on a person, idea, or thing—often to the point where it becomes intrusive or unhealthy. Unlike love, which involves mutual care and respect, obsession tends to be one-sided and driven by a need for control, certainty, or possession. Obsession refers to recurrent, unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that cause distress or anxiety.

ACTIVITY 1

Julia Wolf’s music is intense and brilliant – but we want to figure out whether, when she writes about love (romantic love, familial love or self-love), is she really writing about love? Or is she actually writing about obsession?!

Let’s look at the songs below. The idea is to decide whether each lyric reflects: LOVE or OBSESSION??

Once you’ve decided, you can jot your answer down and start making notes about the writing techniques Wolf employs in order to help you interpret her feelings.

If you’re in the classroom, work in pairs or small groups. One team should argue that Wolf is writing about love, the other should argue that she’s writing about obsession. Make sure to reference the techniques used when presenting your case!!

1. Burning House

I wanna kiss you; you let me over and over and over and over… I’m runnin’ back into the burning house
For you, for me, for us, for everything, I’m runnin’ back into the burning house, For you, for me, for us

2. In My Room

I want your things in my room, I miss you all of the time
I stalk myself on the internet just to see what you’ll find
I want your things in my room, I miss you all of the time
You make it look so easy, leaving everything behind

3. Jennifer’s Body

I used to think I was cool
Until I met you
I can’t keep anything down
I do my hair just like the girls he follows
Ones that pass us by
He must be falling out of love
He says he loves me every night (Her face)

Her eyes
Her lips
Her thighs
She laughs
I cry
She lives in my mind (in my old town)

I wish I had Jennifer’s body
She eats me alive
It’s okay
I know that you want her

4. Last Summer

I’ve been observing
The cracks in the surface
And watching what’s falling through
Nothing is perfect
Hardly ever worth it
When it comes to you

I can’t get warm
Swimming under ice
I’m alone
Everything’s dark and I’m cold
Last summer’s over the current gets stronger
It won’t let me go

5. Wishbone

I looked for you everywhere, it’s embarrassing
You watched the whole time from the driver’s seat
Being mean to my mom when she asked me things
Make or breaking my day off a text, it was me versus sanity

Swam till my hands had no meaning
Then waited on your text to fuck me up

Waited on your text to fuck me up

I want your deleted scenes
But all you give is intros
Let you break me one more time
I wanna be your wishbone

6. Loser

In the notes app on my phone to text you back
Like a loser
What can I say what can I say to make you stay
In the notes app on my phone to text you back
Like a loser (I would die)

I’m clay in your hands

Now, work your way through our other 2000trees classes!