They would throw themselves at their former half in a vain attempt to be once more unified. So strong was their longing for this unification that it became an obsession and the sole focus of their existence. Soon after, the Gods noticed that these creatures began to die of self-neglect and hunger for they did nothing else but strive for this hopeless unification. The Gods took pity on these creatures, and in so doing moved their genitals from the back to the front of their bodies. In addition, these beings were now able to reproduce through a unification of a male and a female facilitated by their newly relocated genitals. Now, instead of laying their seed in the ground, they could lay their seed in one another. .
This new process of reproduction would bring these creatures a sense of fulfillment and unification they have been so desperately looking for. Aristophanes points out that this feeling of fulfillment and happiness did not only extend to the female and male unification, but also could be achieved thought the fruitless unification of a male with another male. Once their desire for unification had been thus fulfilled, these beings could then go about their business and be able to once more be productive, thrive, and multiply so as to better please the Gods. These beings, however, would only long for and seek out their former other halves. The male child of the sun would seek out his other male half, the woman in turn would hunger for another woman, and finally the male/female androgynous being would also seek out his former half. Here thus, according to Aristophanes, we have an explanation for male and female homosexuality, as well as heterosexuality. .
In order to explain how this story might shed some light on Aristophanes idea of love, and what he believes are the characteristics of love; we must first acknowledge the difference between physical sexual love, and a deeper spiritual love that emanates from the soul.