![]() It can be traced back to the knight-errant of Medieval songs and tales, who regarded protection of women as an essential part of the chivalric code, which includes a notion of honour and nobility. It is an archaic term not used in modern English except for effect or in expressions such as this. The word "damsel" derives from the French demoiselle, meaning "young lady", and the term "damsel in distress" in turn is a translation of the French demoiselle en détresse. Throughout the history of the trope, the role of the woman as the victim in need of a male savior has remained constant, but her attackers have changed to suit the tastes and collective fears of the period: " monsters, mad scientists, Nazis, hippies, bikers, aliens.". Ĭritics have linked the helplessness of these women to societal views that women as a group need to be taken care of by men and treated nicely. Kinship, love, lust or a combination of those motivate the male protagonist to initiate the narrative. The damsel in distress is a narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has been kidnapped or placed in other peril. Frank Bernard Dicksee's 1885 painting Chivalry ![]() ![]() For other uses, see Damsel in Distress (disambiguation).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |