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melsheartsthingsOkay so I love the show, Robin Hood produced by the BBC and Tiger Aspect. One of the things I've noticed as I rewatch the show is that, for a series set in 12th Century England, the female characters-Marian and Djaq (whose real name is Safiyya, for those who found my blog somehow and know nothing about this fandom) mainly but also some 'one-off' characters, such as Matilda, Queen Eleanor, and Meg-are given quite a decent amount of agency in their own rights. They are strong, they are smart, they are independent and they do not need a man to defend them. Marian and Djaq do chose to begin (or perhaps 'resume' is the better word in Marian's case) a romantic relationship with a male character, Marian with Robin Hood himself (of course), and Djaq with Will Scarlett. However these relationships are NOT what defines them nor do these realtionships rob them of their agency. Even after Robin has returned to England and they have begun in secret, by default as he is nearly immediately outlawed and Marian's eventual betrothal [despite the show's use of the word 'engaged', 'betrothal' and 'betrothed' are better and more period correct words] and near wedding [which she herself puts a stop by punching Guy in the face with her right hand, onto which she's placed the ring] to Guy, Marian maintains her agency and her guise as the Nightwatchman which begun as her way of going to war at home( as she says to her father Sir Edward, 'I went to war too. Against poverty.') and evolved into a truly real identity for her. On the other hand Djaq and Will's relationship is much less difficult, although there's the small detail of djaq dressing like a man for most of the series, although by season 2 when everybody knows she is, in fact, a woman, she's added some feminine touches to her outfit and has grown her hair out a bit, it is much more on the sidelines and 'off-camera' so to speak. Much of it grows unseen by the audience until the end of the second season.
I'll edit this later to include details on Matilda and Meg. Right now, I'm tired and going to sleep.
I'll edit this later to include details on Matilda and Meg. Right now, I'm tired and going to sleep.
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Date: 2013-07-02 01:23 am (UTC)Are you going to talk about Isabella, too? And Kate? Or are you going to say they're more defined by men? In Isabella's case I would argue that her characterization lampshades that kind of characterization-by-association, and assumptions about women not having power and agency under a variety of circumstances. Not sure what I think about Kate, and I'm only halfway through S3.
And of course, quite rightly for a medieval setting, male characters are also defined through their relationships. LIKE GUY. He pretty much doesn't exist as an independent entity. And Much, and maybe we can argue Allan, although like Isabella, he's pretty self-aware and calculating about it.
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Date: 2013-07-02 02:39 am (UTC)and yes, I am going to totally do a Meta about the guys of RH and how relationships define them or not....
But yes, GUY is TOTALLY defined by his relationships wwith other people (mainly women although there are his relationships with Vaisey, Robin, Allan and Archer to consider and discuss). And Much is too, although quite in a different manner. Allan, I'm likewise not so sure about when it comes to this point.
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Date: 2013-07-02 01:37 am (UTC)This entry! I like it! Another! /MarvelThor
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Date: 2013-07-02 02:49 am (UTC)Another is forthcoming, well, as soon as i get home from camping at some time next week *le sigh*, dearest. No need to go full out MCU!Thor and start smashing things, please.