http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/08/pathetic-female-film-characters
Okay, it's a discussion about film, but I'd thought it would be interesting to focus more on novels [especially as we have already gotten the obligatory Bella mention out of the way.]
So, who is your vote for most pathetic female character in a novel?
My vote is for Tess in Tess of the D'Urbevilles. She's passive and weak, with only one moment of action, and that leads to tragedy. Also, her sole function in the novel is the object of the male gaze. She's used by her parents to advance their status, and trampled over by Alec and Angel. She fails to take action until almost the end of the [long] book.
*I will also mention that I think the blogger seemed to miss the point that The Princess Bride is a parody, and that Buttercup is a parody of the female in fairytale.
Okay, it's a discussion about film, but I'd thought it would be interesting to focus more on novels [especially as we have already gotten the obligatory Bella mention out of the way.]
So, who is your vote for most pathetic female character in a novel?
My vote is for Tess in Tess of the D'Urbevilles. She's passive and weak, with only one moment of action, and that leads to tragedy. Also, her sole function in the novel is the object of the male gaze. She's used by her parents to advance their status, and trampled over by Alec and Angel. She fails to take action until almost the end of the [long] book.
*I will also mention that I think the blogger seemed to miss the point that The Princess Bride is a parody, and that Buttercup is a parody of the female in fairytale.