Inktober Day 11 prompt- Cruel
For some reason, the first thing I could think of when I read the prompt 'Cruel' is the fact that in much of literature, the step-parent or step- sibling is usually portrayed as being the embodiment of cruelty and evilness. I've mulled over this quite a bit but have been unsuccessful in fathoming any logical explanation.
While these relationships are probably not the closest ones, I think that it is extremely unrealistic to depict them as diabolic and toxic. In Cinderella, we have her step mother and step sisters (whose names I don't even know other than of course, 'evil step sisters') whose cruelty she has to put up with on a daily basis. I remember reading somewhere, that in Grimm's version of the fairytale, they are described as being 'beautiful and fair but with hearts foul and black'. While Charles Pernault redeems them in his original by having Cinderella forgive them, things are not so happily ever after in Grimm's Aschenputtel. In the latter, the step sisters go to the extent of chopping off their toes and parts of their heel in order to fit into the glass slippers but the Prince realises they are imposters upon spotting blood stains all over their feet. I'm sure I would have had a fit had I heard this story as a four year old.
Fast forward several generations to the present and we have the Dursley's cruelty towards Harry. (not exactly his step-parents, but you get the general idea)While there is little concrete reason for their behaviour other than the fact that Petunia detested Lily's magical inclinations. Sometime in 2015, though, JK Rowling did reveal a more detailed plot point regarding this issue, which you can check out here: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jk-rowling-finally-reveals-why-the-dursleys-hated-harry-potter-so-much-10341021.html
Hyperbole, is a commonly employed literary device and perhaps these characters mirrored people that were part of their creators own lives. Either way, the cruelty exhibited on their part only makes you, the reader, root for the protagonist even more.
While these relationships are probably not the closest ones, I think that it is extremely unrealistic to depict them as diabolic and toxic. In Cinderella, we have her step mother and step sisters (whose names I don't even know other than of course, 'evil step sisters') whose cruelty she has to put up with on a daily basis. I remember reading somewhere, that in Grimm's version of the fairytale, they are described as being 'beautiful and fair but with hearts foul and black'. While Charles Pernault redeems them in his original by having Cinderella forgive them, things are not so happily ever after in Grimm's Aschenputtel. In the latter, the step sisters go to the extent of chopping off their toes and parts of their heel in order to fit into the glass slippers but the Prince realises they are imposters upon spotting blood stains all over their feet. I'm sure I would have had a fit had I heard this story as a four year old.
Fast forward several generations to the present and we have the Dursley's cruelty towards Harry. (not exactly his step-parents, but you get the general idea)While there is little concrete reason for their behaviour other than the fact that Petunia detested Lily's magical inclinations. Sometime in 2015, though, JK Rowling did reveal a more detailed plot point regarding this issue, which you can check out here: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jk-rowling-finally-reveals-why-the-dursleys-hated-harry-potter-so-much-10341021.html
Hyperbole, is a commonly employed literary device and perhaps these characters mirrored people that were part of their creators own lives. Either way, the cruelty exhibited on their part only makes you, the reader, root for the protagonist even more.
Comments
Post a Comment