The True Blog

The True Blog

As a reader, my self was speechless at how Goodman could create contemptible characters such as Count Rugen and Prince Humperdinck.  Not to address the Prince who’ve showed obvious clues to his odious work, just as a small child leaving a trail from dropping his/her doodads from their stuffed pockets.  And Count Rugen is depicted as a somewhat cruel noble, yet a man of honor and respect (at least that was my conjuncture based on several clues). 

Little by little, Count Rugen’s lies began to deteriorate; the truth penetrates armor of lies like a sword slicing hot butter.  In a flashback of Ingo’s childhood events, Count Rugen killed Ingo’s father, because Domingo would not allow his art work to be insulted.  That is merely a reason for murder.  In this case, the Count is fully proven to be full of sins, including humiliation of Westley, with his gizmo of death.  The ‘dark magic’ used to control the life-sucking device is darker than the abyss: it is the hellish depth of foul hearts.

Even if Count Rugen did not cause the direct murder of Westley, he is still responsible for directing this experiment of torturing devices.  The Count is one of the most authorized personnel in the kingdom of Florin, he have everything.  What could be more amusing than observing the creation and the origin of pain? Everything else.

            It is truly unfortunate for Prince Humperdinck, or almost-king Humperdinck to be viewed as a villain in the first few chapters; however, that is the truth.  It took me twice of reading on page 215 to come to a realization of the Princes’ murderous plot to murder Buttercup on the wedding night.  It was in his planner all along.  Now, who would have thought of that?  The Prince almost seemed friendly and misunderstood at some point of the novel (for example, when Buttercup had nightmares, the Prince showed sympathy to her).  Why Humperdinck, why?

The Princess Bride Blog: a reader said, “Boring”

            Despite the author’s tremendous effort in creating a supposedly fascinating “Classical Tale of Love and adventure”, I still have no fondness for the characters or the plot.  Although it is barely half way through, but the experience from trading the novel would be anything except pleasant.  In addition, there are many negative influences in the novel for youngsters.

            It is entirely immature for Buttercup to love Westley only after a few moments of contact.  Westley is a man if bravery and express his love for Buttercup no matter what, even if he once believed Buttercup cheated on him for gold.  Even if Westley is Buttercup’s true and only love, isn’t it too early to pour all her soul into the loving of Westley?  Moreover, the silly Princess also told the truth to the selfish Prince of being in love with Westley, always, forever.  And does she know the consequences of her actions?  Not only will she suffer, Westley also well.  It is very much accurate that the Prince is a psycho, yet it is obvious that the Prince is such a selfish and cruel man after his proposal to Buttercup.  Buttercup, when will she grow up?

            Prince Humperdinck, and his acquaintance, the Count (aka the six-fingered man) are despicable.  According to many fairytale, Princes are usually the brightest, or at least appear to be.  And Prince Humperdinck is not even close to the normal expectations.  He is a prince who is shaped like a barrel (or not physically fit), draped in sins he have committed for killing animals unreasonably, and maliciously constructed a plan to torture Westley (to death, in case the hints aren’t evident enough), and to murder his fiancé.  I’ve mistaken.  I thought the Prince could have the appearance of a barbarian, but his heart would be pure as water.  Well, his heart is more contaminated than poo. 

The count, a man that seems noble and honorable; however, he is a murderer; also have great interest in pain.  He design, he test (on alive subjects), and record the data with ink that is probably made from drained blood.  His gruesome machinery seem analogous to someone who is always prepared for a little game of his.  And his cruelty is matching to the Prince’s.  After all, he killed a boy’s father for not being satisfied with his services, and left barbs for both the boy’s body, as well as his childhood.

How could Goldman phrase the words like that?  Do he even know what to put on a youth’s literature?  I think not.  At least not for a adolescence who just want to achieve the joy in reading.

The Princess Bride Blog 1

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(The Princess Bride Blog)

Buttercup, the local milkmaid of the Kingdom, nothing as bright, or as physically appealing; however, not repelling as well; after all, she is one of the top twenty beautiful woman in the Kingdom of Florin.  In contrary to her beauty, she is, indeed, not very lady-like.  With personal hygiene that are under expectations, Buttercup isn’t as demanding as the girls in her town, who would surly done anything for a man; especially for a dazzling one, such as her family servant, Westley.   Buttercup soon grew conscious of her love for the farm boy.  In return, a single kiss, before fate shattered their bond.  Only in the very first chapter of the novel, William Goldman, the author of the book dropped a bomb shell upon the ignorant readers.  One, and only one reaction can be driven towards the impossibly uncanny phrasing of words, “whaaa?!”  Reading this novel is like liking the outer coat of sweetness, later, only to learn the truth: this is not a candy, it’s a sugar covered pill, another one of your parents’ smart tricks.  Aside the confusion and uncertainties of being The Princess Bride’s reader, there is also a mixed, thick emotion of love and hatred between its paper-thin pages. 

Considering the novel was written during the 1900’s, it is common for woman’s prejudiced treatment.  Although introducing the vows Buttercup and Westley made the misunderstanding of Westly reasonable, it is still not necessary for him to be so cruel.  And moreover, instead of addressing Buttercup as an “traitor” herself, Westly broadly addressed all females.  For example, “‘you promise?  You?  I should release you on your promise?  What is that worth?  The vow of a woman?’”  Exactly!  Such insult should not be allowed in a wildly distributed text, which commoners have access to.  Let me tell you, Westly, a woman’s vow have the exact worth as a man’s vow.  As such, females do deserve to be treated as mighty as a male.  However, after such barb, Buttercup still managed to love the mysterious outlaw, as soon as she discovered his true identity.  And that, was truly full of generosity, even if her love is being unreasonable and aggressive.  Or is it that the author contributed his personal opinion into his book, that women are arrogant fools, who take a man as their master? 

Let’s all agree on that there is the sugar coating.  How much courage does Buttercup need for the declaration of love?  How many nights does Westlylay awake in the hay-stack dreaming about an impossibility of her love?  But tragedy broke the fragile, little thing.  And fate reunites them, Buttercup and Westly.  Let the sweet melody of love ring; let it bloom like maggots in the dump. 

What the book symbolizes is not only a love story with adventure, but a failure with potentials.  I truly hope the novel will have a conclusion that is all but a failure, a replica of the first a hundred pages.  And an expectable ending will calm the storm in my mind, of how William Goldman lied to everyone (Simon Morgenstern is fictional!!).