The Enemies through the Tales
“Themis, the goddess of destiny, had taken exception to being without a knife for her food…” ~ Perceforest[1]
“‘So you’re that fancy piece of trash, that weed with whom my husband takes his pleasure!…Go on, you’ve reached purgatory, and I’m going to make you pay for the pain you’ve caused me!’’” ~ The King’s Wife to Talia[2]
“But just as all were sitting down to table, an aged fairy was seen to enter, whom no one had thought to invite – the reason being that for more than fifty years she had never quitted the tower in which she lived, and people had supposed her to be dead or bewitched…The old creature believed that she was intentionally slighted, and muttered threats between her teeth…” ~ Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty[3]
“There were thirteen [fairies] in the kingdom, but as the King had only twelve golden plates for them to eat from, one of the fairies had to stay home…When eleven of the fairies had said their say, the thirteenth suddenly appeared. She wanted to revenge herself for not having been invited…” Grimms’ Briar Rose[4]
Maleficent: “I really felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation.” Merryweather: “You weren’t wanted!” Maleficent: “Not wan – ? Oh dear, what an awkward situation. I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight. Well, in that event I’d best be on my way.” Queen: “And you’re not offended, your excellency?” Maleficent: “Why no, your majesty. And to show I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the child…”[5]
The Enemy’s Broken Heart
Our Sleeping Beloveds have shown us how a heart awakens to love; our villainesses have shown us what happens when we disregard love. Like our heroines, each villainess has a different story, but each is dealing with the same broken-hearted realization: they are not noticed, desired, or loved.
Each woman is told she is of little worth…And thus, she perceives her own worth. Each has a deep, primal cry for love – and all face rejection.
Each woman has been taught that she is not worthy of the love she craves.
We have frightening villains in our stories, and yet a villain doesn’t start off as frightening. Rather, they start off as ordinary people, much like you and me.
But then something happens – something terrible. And rather than exposing themselves to hurt once more, they turn inward and build walls about their hearts. Within those walls, they nurse their wounds until bitterness is so ordinary they think of it as love.
It’s why the sight of someone beloved incites such malevolence within their hearts. They cannot be faced with a beloved, for they have not felt beloved themselves.
And yet, as our final version of the Sleeping Beloved shows, no villain is beyond the call of Love. For we are all of us a Beloved to Someone…
Sources
[1] A Perceforest Reader, p. 79
[2] Basile, 415-416
[3] Perrault, p. 3-4
[4] Grimm, p. 101
[5] Disney, 1959
