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The contrast between friendship and romance seems to be a very  difficult thing to directly define.  However, there is, at its core, a  contrast between the two but with a great many similarities.   Aristotle’s hierarchy of friendship, as explained in the module notes,  being Friends of Utility, Friends of Pleasure and Friends of the Soul,  are great examples of how friendship and romance can be  counter-intuitive or can go hand in hand.  With that being said  friendship and romance can both have a deep contrast to each other as  well as be closely related.  An example of friendship that is deep and  loving but without any physical intimacy or romance would be Callow and  Ramsay, as explained in chapter two of Mark Vernon’s The Meaning of  Friendship.  In this chapter the author uses this example to explain  that a deep and very satisfying friendship can be obtained without  romance being a major factor, as Callow is describe as being a  homosexual.  This is a clear example of how friendship and romance are  not always one in the same.  However, there are countless examples of a  deep friendship being the foundation for an extremely happy physical  relationship.  One such example is my little sister and her husband;  they are extremely close, not only on a physical level, as proof by  their two children, but also by that fact that one is almost never seen  without the other.  One could argue that this is mostly due to them  being parents, but even before they were blessed with the two little  ones, they spent much time together just for the sake of enjoying each  other’s company.  However, if they would have stayed strictly friends, I  do not believe they would have obtained the level of happiness that  they both now have.  This example goes along with the idea that marriage  based in friendship as well as intimacy will be more fulfilling than  one that is based only slightly in friendship and more in the romance  factor.  I believe that a relationship, based of my personal  experiences, is much more fulfilling when you have deep friendship to go  along with the romance.  The reason for this is that while physical  contact is good, the relationship seems to always be missing something  more; and I find that when I am in a committed relationship that goes  beyond romance that both myself and my girlfriend are a lot happier.   Which will ultimately lead to longer, healthier relationship.    

References

Vernon, M. (2010). The Meaning of Friendship. MacMillan.