Do you think The Princess Bride qualifies as a fairy tale? Why or why not?
Aspects to show it is a fairy tale-
The Princess Bride by William Goldman, qualifies as a fairy tale due to many aspects. A fairy tale is a story that is magical, idealized, or extremely happy. Westley loved Buttercup since the day he met her. In Fairy Tales, love is a huge aspect because that is what makes up the story. At first Buttercup did not like Westley because she would treat him as a servant. Buttercup would be rude and disrespectful towards him and only care about her horse."The horse's name was "Horse"( Buttercup longed on imagination)"(Goldman 38). "Get me that, Farm Boy...quickly lazy thing, trot now or I'll tell Father"(Goldman 38). She would have to learn her lesson later.
Westley would always obey her because he knew about her beauty. Buttercup never really paid attention to him until the Count and Countess came to the farm. Buttercup felt jealous that The Countess was flirting with Westley. "The farm boy had eyes like the sea before a storm...pale blonde hair...broad enough shoulders....muscular....perfect and tan"(Goldman 50). In fairy tales, the "prince" is like a dream boy. Westley had all of the characteristics, even when he came as the man in black. Many events in The Princess Bride were not real. For example, the fire swamp was a swamp that had fire and no one who got in, could get out. " The sudden bursts... where the the flames would then appear"( Goldman 186). In real life, fire swamps do not exist. Fire swamps exist in fairy tales because this kind of place is where the "prince" helps guide the "princess". In the Princess Bride, Westley was the "prince" and Buttercup was the "princess".
Royalty in fairy tales-
In fairy tales like Cinderella, Shrek, Aladdin, and many more, royalty is involved. Cinderella was a orphan girl that lived with her evil stepmother because her dad had married a woman before he died. One night, she was transformed into the most beautiful person because of her Godmother. "Her figure faults were gone...she now had five full- time hairdressers who managed things for her"( Goldman 90). In this story, Buttercup is like Cinderella in the aspect of being dirty. "You didn't bathe... I've been riding all day"(Goldman 38). Buttercup would never bathe or clean herself. In the other hand, Cinderella had to be dirty because she had to clean the house and be like a maid to her stepmother. " I've been going to royalty school three years now, something had to rub off"( Goldman 326). Buttercup learned etiquette in royalty school because Humperdinck wanted a royal wife. Cinderella learned etiquette after she married her prince.
Hero's Journey in a fairy tale-
Fairy tales will always include a Hero's Journey. In Shrek, Shrek has to rescue Princess Fiona to get his swamp back. Along the way, he fell in love with Fiona and they had to fight for their love. In Aladdin, Aladdin and Princess Jasmine had to reach for their love as well because Aladdin does not reach the standards for a prince. In Aladdin, Shrek and The Princess Bride, the main characters have to reach for true love. Heroes in fairy tales will always pass through the separation, initiation and return steps. However, not all will experience the same steps along the way. In The Princess Bride, there are two heroes, Westley and Buttercup. "I'm going to America to seek my fortune"( Goldman 56). Westley's call to adventure, or the first step was going to America. "Then by all means let us marry"(Goldman 82). Buttercup's call to adventure was when Humperdinck told her to get married with him. Fairy tales do not necessary need to have to start magical because then there would be no journey. Buttercup and Westley went through many events to love with freedom.
Overall opinion-
Overall, I believe that The Princess Bride is considered a fairy tale. Westley seemed to have more lives than a cat because he never died. This basically demonstrates that it is a fairy tale due to all the fake events. I thought that Westley would die and Prince Humperdinck would be with Buttercup. Humperdinck seemed to be a nice person, but turned out to be a hypocrite. He wanted to kill Buttercup. "I've got a wife to murder and a country to frame it for"( Goldman 233). Westley and Buttercup's love was a true fairy tale because they escaped Humperdinck and went very far away. "Oh my Westley, so do I" (Goldman 326). Buttercup and Westley declared their true love on while they were riding the kingdom horses. The Princess Bride was a true fairy tale.
Westley would always obey her because he knew about her beauty. Buttercup never really paid attention to him until the Count and Countess came to the farm. Buttercup felt jealous that The Countess was flirting with Westley. "The farm boy had eyes like the sea before a storm...pale blonde hair...broad enough shoulders....muscular....perfect and tan"(Goldman 50). In fairy tales, the "prince" is like a dream boy. Westley had all of the characteristics, even when he came as the man in black. Many events in The Princess Bride were not real. For example, the fire swamp was a swamp that had fire and no one who got in, could get out. " The sudden bursts... where the the flames would then appear"( Goldman 186). In real life, fire swamps do not exist. Fire swamps exist in fairy tales because this kind of place is where the "prince" helps guide the "princess". In the Princess Bride, Westley was the "prince" and Buttercup was the "princess".
Royalty in fairy tales-
In fairy tales like Cinderella, Shrek, Aladdin, and many more, royalty is involved. Cinderella was a orphan girl that lived with her evil stepmother because her dad had married a woman before he died. One night, she was transformed into the most beautiful person because of her Godmother. "Her figure faults were gone...she now had five full- time hairdressers who managed things for her"( Goldman 90). In this story, Buttercup is like Cinderella in the aspect of being dirty. "You didn't bathe... I've been riding all day"(Goldman 38). Buttercup would never bathe or clean herself. In the other hand, Cinderella had to be dirty because she had to clean the house and be like a maid to her stepmother. " I've been going to royalty school three years now, something had to rub off"( Goldman 326). Buttercup learned etiquette in royalty school because Humperdinck wanted a royal wife. Cinderella learned etiquette after she married her prince.
Hero's Journey in a fairy tale-
Fairy tales will always include a Hero's Journey. In Shrek, Shrek has to rescue Princess Fiona to get his swamp back. Along the way, he fell in love with Fiona and they had to fight for their love. In Aladdin, Aladdin and Princess Jasmine had to reach for their love as well because Aladdin does not reach the standards for a prince. In Aladdin, Shrek and The Princess Bride, the main characters have to reach for true love. Heroes in fairy tales will always pass through the separation, initiation and return steps. However, not all will experience the same steps along the way. In The Princess Bride, there are two heroes, Westley and Buttercup. "I'm going to America to seek my fortune"( Goldman 56). Westley's call to adventure, or the first step was going to America. "Then by all means let us marry"(Goldman 82). Buttercup's call to adventure was when Humperdinck told her to get married with him. Fairy tales do not necessary need to have to start magical because then there would be no journey. Buttercup and Westley went through many events to love with freedom.
Overall opinion-
Overall, I believe that The Princess Bride is considered a fairy tale. Westley seemed to have more lives than a cat because he never died. This basically demonstrates that it is a fairy tale due to all the fake events. I thought that Westley would die and Prince Humperdinck would be with Buttercup. Humperdinck seemed to be a nice person, but turned out to be a hypocrite. He wanted to kill Buttercup. "I've got a wife to murder and a country to frame it for"( Goldman 233). Westley and Buttercup's love was a true fairy tale because they escaped Humperdinck and went very far away. "Oh my Westley, so do I" (Goldman 326). Buttercup and Westley declared their true love on while they were riding the kingdom horses. The Princess Bride was a true fairy tale.
Image credit HERE
True Love HERE
Buttercup and Fezzik HERE
Westley HERE