Ironically, of course, our Lady is a great dragon slayer—she treads on the head of the serpent. But you are absolutely right that she is not a "Girl Boss" in the way Hollywood imagines her.
Dude, I picked up this article because of the content, but when I saw the book ad at the end, that hit like a slap. I had to check to see if you were promoting your own work. Now I've got to sit and think about what you've done. :D
The author has done a great job of outlining the archetypal maiden story.
I would just add that the maiden is only one of three positive feminine archetypes that could have been discussed (the other two being "mother" and "matriarch.") I think these other two archetypes likely have distinct archetypal stories that differ from the story of the maiden. One that comes immediately to mind is Mrs. Brisby in The Secret of NYMN.
Posts like this do more harm than good, and this is coming from a conservative-minded person. Women can definitely go through a hero's journey. Legally Blonde comes to mind as an example. A woman journeys through a misbelief and becomes an attorney on the other side. I haven't watched it recently but I assume the screenplay is tight enough that she enters the door at 25%, etc. You can phrase it as "she's just protecting people then" but yeah that's what heroes do. They don't just murder dragons for the lawls.
(Ironically, saying women can't go through the hero's journey is reinforcing a misbelief.)
I don't quite agree with you. Women can have a hero's journey. The only problem with Rey, Captain Marvel, and Modern Female Characters is that they don't have to struggle and learn.
In Star Wars, Leia had a journey of her own. Her Hero's story was when she rescued Han.
Ellen Ripley had a very long journey as she kept getting thrown to the aliens.
Rey didn't have to struggle or learn anything. She just seemed to great at everything. She didn't have to train and could pilot the falcon better than Han, but she had never flown a ship before. She beat Kylo without having ever picked up a lightsaber before.
Captain Marvel had all this power just handed to her but didn't have to learn how to use it.
Eowyn had a hero's journey. She had the training to ride and fight as a shield maiden. We didn't see her training.
Leia's role (and tRotJ) were murkier in both quality of story-telling and Hero/ine's journey. So let that one pass.
Rey was in a lousy story all-around, so it is harder to say.
Eowyn is more clear-cut. Her heroine's journey was to get past her aping of the hero's journey. Not because she was terrible at (Rey) or in a clumsily-told story (Leia), but because she was made for better things. Her eucatastrophe was in the House of Healing.
So, no, the OP is correct.
If you need female dispensation to let go of the interchangability of the sexes, accept it with my blessing. It's been a curse on the West since we fell for it.
Definitely, less Girl Bosses and more Queens of a Traditional type.
Hail, Mary!
Ironically, of course, our Lady is a great dragon slayer—she treads on the head of the serpent. But you are absolutely right that she is not a "Girl Boss" in the way Hollywood imagines her.
Sailor Moon’s journey would be a big step up for Hollywood in female storytelling.
Sleeping Beauty doesn’t seek a prize; she is the prize. The same goes for Princess Peach, Cinderella, Snow White, et al
Dude, I picked up this article because of the content, but when I saw the book ad at the end, that hit like a slap. I had to check to see if you were promoting your own work. Now I've got to sit and think about what you've done. :D
Love this post.
The author has done a great job of outlining the archetypal maiden story.
I would just add that the maiden is only one of three positive feminine archetypes that could have been discussed (the other two being "mother" and "matriarch.") I think these other two archetypes likely have distinct archetypal stories that differ from the story of the maiden. One that comes immediately to mind is Mrs. Brisby in The Secret of NYMN.
Or Sarah Conner.
I'm a leftist but, yes, I agree.
Posts like this do more harm than good, and this is coming from a conservative-minded person. Women can definitely go through a hero's journey. Legally Blonde comes to mind as an example. A woman journeys through a misbelief and becomes an attorney on the other side. I haven't watched it recently but I assume the screenplay is tight enough that she enters the door at 25%, etc. You can phrase it as "she's just protecting people then" but yeah that's what heroes do. They don't just murder dragons for the lawls.
(Ironically, saying women can't go through the hero's journey is reinforcing a misbelief.)
Well-said.
I don't quite agree with you. Women can have a hero's journey. The only problem with Rey, Captain Marvel, and Modern Female Characters is that they don't have to struggle and learn.
In Star Wars, Leia had a journey of her own. Her Hero's story was when she rescued Han.
Ellen Ripley had a very long journey as she kept getting thrown to the aliens.
Rey didn't have to struggle or learn anything. She just seemed to great at everything. She didn't have to train and could pilot the falcon better than Han, but she had never flown a ship before. She beat Kylo without having ever picked up a lightsaber before.
Captain Marvel had all this power just handed to her but didn't have to learn how to use it.
Eowyn had a hero's journey. She had the training to ride and fight as a shield maiden. We didn't see her training.
Leia's role (and tRotJ) were murkier in both quality of story-telling and Hero/ine's journey. So let that one pass.
Rey was in a lousy story all-around, so it is harder to say.
Eowyn is more clear-cut. Her heroine's journey was to get past her aping of the hero's journey. Not because she was terrible at (Rey) or in a clumsily-told story (Leia), but because she was made for better things. Her eucatastrophe was in the House of Healing.
So, no, the OP is correct.
If you need female dispensation to let go of the interchangability of the sexes, accept it with my blessing. It's been a curse on the West since we fell for it.