Why Is Cimorene Justified In Dealing With Dragons

In the article “In Defense of Princes Culture,” Crystal Liechty presents an argument detailing her opinion on why women should not be disappointed about children who like and idolize the princess culture. She expresses her dismay at a woman who changed the Princess story when reading it to the kindergarten to suit her values. Liechty believes that although she did not grow up believing in the Princess culture, she does not mind bringing up a daughter who believes in the culture. She also reckons that she would have enjoyed wearing the princesses’ dresses even though she had come to believe that it was a bad thing. Liechty believes that it is the best option that a parent can use to instill values to her daughter compared to other available options. Liechty points out that the princess culture presents a highly effective tool for instilling values to a girl child. Despite the essay being valid, there are some arguments presented in the essay that I do not agree with.

Patricia C. Wrede, the main character by the name of Cimorene, is no ordinary medieval princess. She is an adventurous girl who runs away from her familial and societal obligation. She joins forces with a fierce, kind, and powerful dragon named Kazul. Cimorene was justified in ignoring the social norms of medieval society because Cimorene is not satisfied with her life, finally she has hit her breaking point, and unlike every other princess cimorene has a mind of her own and is very independent.

The author writes “Maybe princesses are in fact a sign of progress, an indication that girls can embrace their predilection for pink without compromising strength or ambition; that, at long last, they can ''have it all.'' Or maybe it is even less complex than that: to mangle Freud, maybe a princess is sometimes just a princess” (Orenstein). Peggy Orenstein is a feminist author with a young daughter obsessed with everything pink and princess, she struggles to find positives from this “princess culture” but realizes that sometimes a princess can just be a princess. Possibly there is no deeper meaning other than being something magical and fun for young girls to enjoy. One common theme in all of the princess movies is good overcomes evil. They show children the pure hearts of the princesses and how to be kind and loving. Andy Mooney, head of the company answered this when asked about “princess culture” and role models “The girl passes through. I see girls expanding their imagination through visualizing themselves as princesses, and then they pass through that phase and end up becoming lawyers, doctors, mothers or princesses, whatever the case may be. ''Mooney has a point: There are no studies proving that playing princess directly damages girls' self-esteem or dampens other aspirations” (Orenstein). Girls are able to preserve their innocence by believing in the magic that comes along

Dealing with Dragons In the novel Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede, the main character Cimorene is a princess that doesn’t pursue the quintessential princess role in the kingdom. Cimorene’s parents did not even respect or value her. Additionally she want to learn new things, but her society does not allow females to pursue them. Finally, she is being forced to marry a prince whom she does not respect.

Cassandra Stover explains in her Journal Damsels and Heroines: The Conundrum of the Post-Feminist Disney Princess, the dramatic shift with Disney princess at the peak of the late 1980s and early 1990s. She explains that the shift can derive from feminist movements and how the change can be directed to the third wave of feminism. She examines the original Disney princesses and decribes them to be more passively aggresive and unindependent, while the new princesses are more independent and brave. The author then explains if the shift from the old to new princesses are actually better, and not just different. Stover analysizes that Disney princesses evolve and are a part of the worlds change on feminism.

Authors James Poniewozik and Peggy Orenstein are both concerned with the increase of princess culture among young girls. Poniewozik’s article “The Princess Paradox” and Orenstein's article “Cinderella and Princess Culture” discuss similar aspects of princess culture that could be potentially harmful to it’s audience. Both Poniewozik and Orenstein take on a feminist perspective in their articles. Specifically, both authors discuss feminist themes in princess culture but Orenstein focuses on toddler to pre-teen aged girls while Poniewozik is more concerned with specifically teenagers.

In the satirical novel, “Dealing with Dragons”, written by Patricia C. Wrede it focuses on how Cimorene went against her expected routine as a Medieval princess. Cimorene was justified in ignoring the acquired social norms of the Medieval Society because, she could be independent in her own life without limits, there were endless opportunities for her, and she wouldn’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations.

Not only does this outburst cause Lanval to lose his lover, but now, he must also prove to King Arthur that he did not insult his honor by demeaning the Queen during his fit of rage. If Lanval had not acted this way, he still could have been a successful knight, yet the

In Peggy Orenstein’s article, “What's wrong with Cinderella?” she discusses the problems with princesses. The first problem being that princess merchandise is everywhere. Orenstein writes about when she took her daughter to the dentist and once the check-up was over, her daughter got a princess sticker. Princesses are embedded into a child’s everyday life, making a “princess” more of a way of living than a fantasy. To further this point, Orenstein mentions how even now, in a show that is supposed to be about teaching other languages, Dora the Explorer, has turned into Dora finding a fairy tale land where she becomes a princess at the end of her two part movie. This is only the beginning of the issues that are brought to attention in this article.

It is important for people to realize that happily ever after is not always what people think it is; nonetheless, we should make it a point to enjoy our lives while we can. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede is a satirical fairy tale that takes place in a magical kingdom. Cimorene is an improper princess that runs away to live with dragons. While serving as a dragon’s princess, Cimorene uncovers the wizards plot to kill the king of the dragons and replace him with their ally. By the end of the story, Cimorene learns to solve her own problems instead of complaining about them and running away.

him, therefore, she lives with her sister and his husband as a result. This shows the mother’s priorities

Defeating Dragons and Minutes That Matter have many similarity and differences! Defeating Dragons is about a group of teens who help the local people of Aniak, Alaska they work 24 hours 7 days a week.Minutes That Matter is about a group of teens who send phones to soldiers who were overseas so they could talk to there family.These two groups both help people,whether it's helping them communicate with their family or helping them if they're hurt.They also are different in some ways Defeating Dragons help if there's an emergency, and Minutes That Matter help the soldiers keep in touch with their friends and family.

Obedience is another factor that constitutes courtly behavior in the story. Lancelot battles arduous combats and suffers severe wounds for the love of Guinevere. However, once throughout his voyage he falters in his obedience to her love, when he comes across a dwarf, driver of a cart, the dwarf tells Lancelot to ride in the cart in exchange for information on Guinevere’s whereabouts; Lancelot hesitates momentarily before leaping into the cart. Lancelot regrets this moment of hesitation and scolds himself, he argues “…Reason, who does not follow love’s command, told him to beware of getting in and admonished him…Love ordered and wished [he would ride in the cart]…; since love ruled his action, the disgrace should not have mattered.” 2 Lancelot is deeply ashamed and never falters

His fervent and imperious ways were in instilled in her since birth. Knowing the princess’s nature, the king did not just “happen” to find out about their affair it was planned. The fact was obvious, her choice in men was not one of which her father would approve. The discovery was a perfect way to ride her of the youth. She had no future.

The princesses having, or not having, outside assistance in their journeys makes their character act and think differently.