Friday, July 19, 2013

THE EPIC CONCLUSION


"Red Zone" by Tatsh & NAOKI

I'VE BEEN WAITING TO USE THIS SONG FOREVER YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I glad that I could use it on this occasion.


I will be using Tv Tropes to identify the trope that correctly identifies Woosh Woman's character. (So there will be a lot of copy-paste work...)

If you don't know what Tv Tropes is... Then shame on you. You fail the internet.

image
If you don't know what Tv Tropes is... 
So at least just pretend you know...

LORD HAVE MERCY THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS I COULD DO THIS.

In fact so many ways I had to delete the second half of this post and start over

So Woosh Woman's character trope is:

Spirited Young Lady
"Sarah Harrison disrupted her own wedding ceremony in 1687. When asked if she would love, cherish, and obey her husband, she responded "no obey", and persisted in that answer until her husband agreed to marry on her terms."

There's a certain kind of character commonly found in historical fiction set in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (though she can appear earlier or later, too). Her literary ancestress can be found in some of the best-loved novels of the Regency and Victorian eras. She's the girl who bends the rules just a little. Oh, she can dance a country dance or pour tea with the best of them, but she may also be a good walker or horseback rider. She may be the most intelligent girl in the story, and she's almost certainly the wittiest and the most outspoken, sometimes earning her the title of spitfire. She may be talented in more practical ways, as well: if given the opportunity, she may turn out to be a wise investor, and she may harbor talent for music, writing or art that goes beyond drawing room entertainment and might become a means of financial independence if necessary. In rare cases, she may even solve a murder. Though she occasionally runs into some trouble, especially if she fails to obey the powers that be, she usually comes through in the end. She will be the Veronica of a Betty and Veronica love triangle, and the hero is likely to find her more enticing than her more docile sisters.
The Spirited Young Lady has the same grace and style as the Proper Lady plus an added spark of attitude or rebellion that's missing from her more-prim-and-proper literary cousin. This is what makes her such a popular character today: she's the character modern audiences can most admire or relate to. In historical fiction, she's likely to be a proto-feminist. In nineteenth-century literature, she may not speak out for women's rights generally (a few examples do), but she will speak out for her rights pretty clearly. Her willingness to say what she wants is part of what makes her stand out. In unskillful hands, such a character may seem anachronistic, or may become a Sue, though there are many examples that are both believable and well-rounded.
To sum up, here are the defining traits of a Spirited Young Lady:
  • She is a young woman, usually between 16-25.
  • Her social standing/family background will be middle class or higher. Most often, her family comes from the landed gentry, though she may be a clergyman's daughter.
  • She is witty and confident in her conversation.
  • She is often quite intelligent, and may display other talents.
  • She has less interest in lady-like activities (such as embroidery) and might enjoy "unladylike" things (such as foxhunting) more than would be proper for alady.
  • She is independent and self-sufficient. She anticipates, or even expects, to marry someday, but she does not need a man to give her life purpose.
  • She is generally honest and frank (though she may lie for a good cause).
  • She may be outspoken, bold, or in some cases even defiant.
  • Despite the above, she generally avoids going so far beyond the rules of her society that she would be labelled disreputable: she is, after all, a lady.
  • Though the Spirited Young Lady is usually a heroine or positive supporting character, negative versions of this trope are possible. Only add such examples if it is clear that they are treated as spirited young ladies in universe. If you're adding a villain or anti-hero as an example, please explain how she fits this trope rather than being just a period version of another trope.

The Proper Lady and the Spirited Young Lady are frequently paired together. If the Spirited Young Lady is the heroine, the Proper Lady may be her rival. In such cases the Spirited Young Lady may serve to deconstruct the Proper Lady. On the other hand, if the Proper Lady is the heroine, the Spirited Young Lady may serve as a bad example that the Proper Lady must reject. However, the two tropes have been known to coexist quite happily together as siblings or friends, in which case their differing character traits complement each other. (See Tomboy and Girly Girl for a similar dynamic).
Compare Rebellious Princess, who's of a higher social standing but may behave similarly. The Spirited Young Lady may also be a Plucky Girl and/or Well, Excuse Me, Princess!, but that isn't necessary to this trope. See also Yamato Nadeshiko, which can serve as the Japanese counterpart to either this trope or the Proper Lady. For ladies that hide their 'spark' in Politeness Judo and Passive Aggressive Kombat, see Silk Hiding Steel.


I feel that this trope fits a lot. I wish I could be able to elaborate more on Woosh Woman's character but that pretty sums it up. At least from my perspective. I don't know who the competing character would be though. Not many people try to be "ladylike" anymore...

This was a good idea.

The second part. 

The first part was just abnormally tedious and it took the most time...

But I might find character tropes for other people because that was considerably easier. Still difficult. But easier.

Are you satisfied now Woosh Woman? 

I made TWO posts about you!

And one of them is the longest I've ever made...

So no more complaining about mentions. Mmmkay?

No comments:

Post a Comment