Wednesday, October 3, 2007

F is for

Feminine. Think of all the females that touch our lives. Our mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, and lovers. Think of their softness and loving touches and then think of their anger and justified revenge. I hate books where the feminine is only the former. She is pale, soft, timid, weak, in need of rescuing.

In the movie "The Princess Bride" (which I like for all parts except Buttercup's inability to defend herself) Buttercup
needs rescuing because she doesn't seem to be able to do it herself. She waits on the boat to be rescued. She relies upon others to save her from danger. She can't even pick up a stick and hit the R.O.U.S. when it is attacking her true love. She can't think enough to escape the castle to go find Wesley. She waits for Wesley to save her. "He will come. I know it."

Counter that princess with Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. She is "grave and thoughful was her glance, as she looked on the king with cool pity in her eyes. Very fair was her face, and her long hair was like a river of gold. Slender and tall she was in her white robe girt with silver, but strong she seemed and stern as steel, a daughter of kings." She was "no man" who was able to defeat Nazgul. Two princesses. Two females. Both beautiful. But with Buttercup her abilities ended with her beauty. With Eowyn she didn't let her beauty limit her abilities.

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