Gender Roles in BG and an Underlying Theme
Well, let me start by explaining BG. BG is my current novel, almost done and just a few words shy of 97k. It's an exciting revelation to know my novel is going to pass 100k, maybe even 110k. But the reason for this blog is actually an epiphany I had this morning after my Intro to Science-Fiction class. We're actually covering Fantasy right now and the professor was talking about gender roles and how Sabriel (in "Sabriel" By Garth Nix) had to be female because an 18 year old charter mage wouldn't run from danger he couldn't face. He'd face it and get cocky and arrogant. So then I was thinking about gender roles in my own novel and most everyone plays by the rules except for- well, for publishing sake, we shall call the girl Sue and the boy Bob.
Well, Sue is cocky, arrogant, stubborn, quick-tempered, fearless, and strong. She is a real character, that's for sure. She gets angry and she goes off, no matter how wrong she is and who she's mad at. She spontaneous almost in a bad way, very impulsive. And I love her! Sometimes I read her and I'm shocked and if you know me and one day read my book, there is no doubting she is me flaws and all. Well, she is very much in the male role in my novel. Which is interesting because I relate to her. I really get her.
Bob is responsible, thoughtful, aware of his strengths and weaknesses, level-headed, and not at all in the typical male role. Which is a good thing because he's the rightful king of Country1. But Sue marries him, they were life-long friends, and they are perfect together, even though they are both against typical gender roles and opposites. Sue wants Bob to have his throne almost more than he does. Not because she wants to be queen but because she's lost her mother to Bob's tyrant uncle and somehow she believes destroying him will free her of any guilt (her birth sort of caused the murder). Whereas Bob's father was killed by Uncle but he wants peace for his people, not so much his own agenda.
So this was a huge epiphany for me because I never realized it. Also, there is a major recurring theme of when one life ends, another begins. I didn't realize this until planning a litter of puppies last night. And it's not always a baby or puppies, but somehow death is never the end. As in, I don't think one person is the "chosen one" or that the death of one individual leaves the world in misery and dismay. No, life goes on. For example, if Harry Potter had fallen and broken his neck whilst riding Buckbeak- who would have killed Voldemort? Would Voldy have taken over the whole world, muggle and magic and never been stopped because one boy, one child fell off of a hippogriff? I refuse to write a book like that because it's not realistic. Same sort of thing with Frodo, Sam, and the ring in LotR. I know these authors are great, well-read, and genius in their own way. But I accept that their way will never be my way.
I may be being cocky (told you- Sue= Me) but my novel is a genre until itself or at least, a subgenre. Almost done, so hopefully I'll be all over the bookshelves by 2010!!!!
Well, Sue is cocky, arrogant, stubborn, quick-tempered, fearless, and strong. She is a real character, that's for sure. She gets angry and she goes off, no matter how wrong she is and who she's mad at. She spontaneous almost in a bad way, very impulsive. And I love her! Sometimes I read her and I'm shocked and if you know me and one day read my book, there is no doubting she is me flaws and all. Well, she is very much in the male role in my novel. Which is interesting because I relate to her. I really get her.
Bob is responsible, thoughtful, aware of his strengths and weaknesses, level-headed, and not at all in the typical male role. Which is a good thing because he's the rightful king of Country1. But Sue marries him, they were life-long friends, and they are perfect together, even though they are both against typical gender roles and opposites. Sue wants Bob to have his throne almost more than he does. Not because she wants to be queen but because she's lost her mother to Bob's tyrant uncle and somehow she believes destroying him will free her of any guilt (her birth sort of caused the murder). Whereas Bob's father was killed by Uncle but he wants peace for his people, not so much his own agenda.
So this was a huge epiphany for me because I never realized it. Also, there is a major recurring theme of when one life ends, another begins. I didn't realize this until planning a litter of puppies last night. And it's not always a baby or puppies, but somehow death is never the end. As in, I don't think one person is the "chosen one" or that the death of one individual leaves the world in misery and dismay. No, life goes on. For example, if Harry Potter had fallen and broken his neck whilst riding Buckbeak- who would have killed Voldemort? Would Voldy have taken over the whole world, muggle and magic and never been stopped because one boy, one child fell off of a hippogriff? I refuse to write a book like that because it's not realistic. Same sort of thing with Frodo, Sam, and the ring in LotR. I know these authors are great, well-read, and genius in their own way. But I accept that their way will never be my way.
I may be being cocky (told you- Sue= Me) but my novel is a genre until itself or at least, a subgenre. Almost done, so hopefully I'll be all over the bookshelves by 2010!!!!