“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” ~ Genesis 50:20
And here we are, back at the beginning. This was the verse that introduced our Zellandine, and I find it highly appropriate to use it for the last.
It’s been the same question down through the centuries: will your heart awaken to love? Zellandine’s heart awakens after enduring abuse. Talia implores us to choose hope, even in loveless marriages (which was especially applicable in her time period). Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty shows us how our hearts need to be awakened by a Savior. Briar Rose reminds us that wearing a deed-based mask can put our hearts into the deepest of sleeps that only true Love can awaken. Aurora rekindles our longing for a Warrior-Lover who will save the day.
Maleficent
In Maleficent we have all those truths wrapped up in one epic and beautiful story.
I love each of our heroines dearly, and I feel fiercely protective of them and their stories. However, of all the versions of the Sleeping Beauty, Disney’s 2014 Maleficent is my very favorite.
There are two Sleeping Beloveds in Maleficent – and there are various sleeps they fall into. There is a drugged sleep and an enchanted sleep; and, of course, at times it is their heart and not their body that falls asleep. The film is not unique in this aspect. As we’ve seen, the villainess’ heart in each version is asleep; it is from her lack of love that she curses the infant princess.
It is, however, the only version in which the villainess is redeemed, thereby making her both the villain and the hero…
