Sunday, May 27, 2007
What makes a Heroine?
I saw the latest Pirates of the Carribean movie last night; it was fun, but this is not a review of the movie. I just need a platform to vent how much I hated Kiera Knightly's character, Elizabeth Swann! I don't know exactly what it is that bugs me so about her: her anger and rebellion, her constant abuse of the man who loves her, the fact that she is always trying to prove herself in fights and looks like man at times yet still seems anxious to flirt with Jack Sparrow or whoever else is there, her pettiness, the fact that she is battle-worn and nearly drown yet still looks sexy and wonderful when she comes out and that ten years goes by and she doesn't even age a day! Overall, Elizabeth Swann is a poorly constructed character, angry and self-serving, using her femininity only to exploit it to get what she needs (ie, kill Jack Sparrow).
It is silly to hate and fuss about a character without showing what makes a good heroine, so I have compiled a list of true ladies in fiction (book and moive) who are excellent examples not only of people, but also of women. These women are strong (character wise as well as physically), brave, selfless, patient, kind, inspiring, no-nonsense and unique individuals. These ladies not only inspire their men in battle, but will also fight when necessary. They love deeply; they fight passionately; They have nothing to prove, they know who they are and we love them for it.
(In no particular order)
It is silly to hate and fuss about a character without showing what makes a good heroine, so I have compiled a list of true ladies in fiction (book and moive) who are excellent examples not only of people, but also of women. These women are strong (character wise as well as physically), brave, selfless, patient, kind, inspiring, no-nonsense and unique individuals. These ladies not only inspire their men in battle, but will also fight when necessary. They love deeply; they fight passionately; They have nothing to prove, they know who they are and we love them for it.
(In no particular order)
- Eowyn (from The Lord of the Rings)
- Luthien (from Tolkein's The Silmarillion)
- Princess Leah (from Star Wars 4-6)
- Queen Amidala (from Star Wars 1-3)
- Buttercup (from The Princess Bride)
- Danielle (from Ever After)
- Belle (from Disney's Beauty and the Beast)
- Joan of Arc (from Mark Twain's book)
- Jane Eyre (from Charlotte Bronte's book)
- Mina Harker (from Bram Stoker's Dracula)
- Margurite Blakeney (from The Scarlet Pimpernel book and movie)
- Lucy Pevensie (from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie)
- Sofie (from Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle)
- Tifa (from Final Fantasy Advent Children)
- Elena (from Mask of Zorro)
- Evie (from the Mummy movies)
- Princess Fiona (from the Shrek movies)
- Christine Daae (from The Phantom of the Opera movie and book)
- Mary Jane (from Spider-Man 2)
# posted by Carla May @ 3:35 PM 
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I resent that you said Tifa was from Advent Children instead of the coolest game ever, FFVII :P
Still, I like Princess Leia and Tifa the best out of your list. Not a bad list, i must say...
Still, I like Princess Leia and Tifa the best out of your list. Not a bad list, i must say...
Mulan, Maid Marion (I'm not sure with her), Princess Adie from "The Two Princesses of Bamarre," Ella out of "Ella Enchanted," Kamiya Kaoru from the Kenshin cartoon series, Dustfinger :), Resa in Inkspell (I'm not sure about her either), Ivy Walker from "The Village," Bess the landlord's daughter from "The Highwayman" (maybe?), and Chihiro from "Spirited Away."
Whoo, that is all I have for now. ALL of them are better than Kiera Knightly.
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Whoo, that is all I have for now. ALL of them are better than Kiera Knightly.
# posted by 
: May 28, 2007 11:33 PM
: May 28, 2007 11:33 PM << Home
