The Modern Damsel
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I just finished reading Twilight, which I enjoyed quite a bit. But it made me realize how precarious the role of the modern damsel is. We still want those classic, (possibly) archetypal stories where the devoted, strong man saves the endangered woman, but certain ancient tropes won't fly in the modern world. Sometimes authors try to elude this trap by giving the woman a "mind of her own" which unfortunately consists solely of a certain crabbiness: Edward is giving Bella a birthday party, but she doesn't want a party! She shows her independence of him by sulking and being uncooperative. This is both annoying and insufficient. But I sympathize with the difficulties involved.
If you think of some successful examples of the modern damsel, post them in the comments section.
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I just finished reading Twilight, which I enjoyed quite a bit. But it made me realize how precarious the role of the modern damsel is. We still want those classic, (possibly) archetypal stories where the devoted, strong man saves the endangered woman, but certain ancient tropes won't fly in the modern world. Sometimes authors try to elude this trap by giving the woman a "mind of her own" which unfortunately consists solely of a certain crabbiness: Edward is giving Bella a birthday party, but she doesn't want a party! She shows her independence of him by sulking and being uncooperative. This is both annoying and insufficient. But I sympathize with the difficulties involved.
If you think of some successful examples of the modern damsel, post them in the comments section.
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posted by Anonymous at
3:32 PM
1 Comments:
NOT ANSWERING LYNN'S QUESTION (YET): i *so* agree with your assessment of the ineffectual, unsatisfying modernization of the damsel story by making the damsel prickly. i believe it represents the author's psychology: she's uncomfortable presenting us with a weak heroine, and so she offers an inadequate apology via the damsel's crankiness. that is, it's a way of saying, "well, i certainly think being rescued is foolish. and i'm a *modern* woman, so i put my foot down! and i am cranky! i am dissatisfied with your thinking i need to be protected!" but that's a ridiculous trade, because the damsel's protest is so easily overcome by the knowing, noble rescuer; her protests are ignored or swept aside; sometimes she's physically thrown over his shoulder, protesting. but the author (and her avid reader) still *want* her to be rescued, but they have to acknowledge changing times. it's a tension we modern feminists haven't necessarily been able to address.
okay. trying to think of modern lit examples of effectual, postfeminist damsels. . . .
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