The Princess Bride
From climbing up seven hundred foot cliffs, to fighting off unusually large rodents, and a climactic resurrection, The Princess Bride is the story of an adventure keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The story surrounds the cliché: the hero always gets the girl. We follow the protagonist Westley as he sets out on an action filled journey driven by his love for a woman named Buttercup. The manipulation of tropes, commonly recurring literary devices, give a comedic feel to this romance narrative structured plot. Typically, certain characters such as princes, henchman, and witches are specifically characterized during a romance narrative, but in The Princess Bride they claim alternative roles contributing to this light …show more content…
He plans to use Buttercup as a martyr in order to fuel a war with another kingdom. Although an unexpected hero, Westley, a mysterious “man in black”, a multi-skilled pirate and Buttercup’s long lost love, comes to her rescue. Jealousy built up in Westley, directed towards the prince, form a relationship of disgust and resentment that formulate into a final duel at the end of the movie. Although duels between the protagonist and the antagonist are typically elaborate and action filled, this one is neither. Westley makes a mockery of the prince: “...That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.” This scene allows viewers to see the lighter side of the prince’s villainous character. Although Westley provokes the prince as predicted, he does nothing, revealing his cowardice nature. Despite his brutal motives, humour is utilized to play down his character’s tyranny, conflicting with a traditional romance narrative. Although unconventional, this final stand Westley partakes in with Prince Humperdinck emphasises the ridicule of his character, and the irony of the cruel role the prince …show more content…
Their humorous personalities provide obstacles for Westley which he easily maneuvers through. The first one is the Cliffs of Insanity, an “Inconceivable Task,” which Westley is able to overcome with the assistance of Inigo. Despite the fact that they are enemies, Inigo wants to make it a “fair fight,” which displays the unwillingness he has to kill Westley. Furthermore he proceeds to jest with Westley during their talkative sword fight. Next, Westley faces Fezzick, the kind hearted giant, who puts down a huge stone in exchange for a fist fight. Lastly, “The Battle of Wits,” usually a nerve-racking matter, the Sicilian ends up literally dying of laughter till he is blue in the face. He agrees to this gamble unknowingly that Westley was immune to the lethal drug iocane involved, with his “know it all,” and naive personality getting the best of him. The audience is able to connect with these “henchman” as they are nonthreatening and purely present to create a playful atmosphere. Furthermore, these out of the ordinary, gullible villains, offer little opposition, but are a crucial aspect of the plot, by entertaining with the chatty duels that they engage in with
From climbing up seven hundred foot cliffs, to fighting off unusually large rodents, and a climactic resurrection, The Princess Bride is the story of an adventure keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The story surrounds the cliché: the hero always gets the girl. We follow the protagonist Westley as he sets out on an action filled journey driven by his love for a woman named Buttercup. The manipulation of tropes, commonly recurring literary devices, give a comedic feel to this romance narrative structured plot. Typically, certain characters such as princes, henchman, and witches are specifically characterized during a romance narrative, but in The Princess Bride they claim alternative roles contributing to this light …show more content…
He plans to use Buttercup as a martyr in order to fuel a war with another kingdom. Although an unexpected hero, Westley, a mysterious “man in black”, a multi-skilled pirate and Buttercup’s long lost love, comes to her rescue. Jealousy built up in Westley, directed towards the prince, form a relationship of disgust and resentment that formulate into a final duel at the end of the movie. Although duels between the protagonist and the antagonist are typically elaborate and action filled, this one is neither. Westley makes a mockery of the prince: “...That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.” This scene allows viewers to see the lighter side of the prince’s villainous character. Although Westley provokes the prince as predicted, he does nothing, revealing his cowardice nature. Despite his brutal motives, humour is utilized to play down his character’s tyranny, conflicting with a traditional romance narrative. Although unconventional, this final stand Westley partakes in with Prince Humperdinck emphasises the ridicule of his character, and the irony of the cruel role the prince …show more content…
Their humorous personalities provide obstacles for Westley which he easily maneuvers through. The first one is the Cliffs of Insanity, an “Inconceivable Task,” which Westley is able to overcome with the assistance of Inigo. Despite the fact that they are enemies, Inigo wants to make it a “fair fight,” which displays the unwillingness he has to kill Westley. Furthermore he proceeds to jest with Westley during their talkative sword fight. Next, Westley faces Fezzick, the kind hearted giant, who puts down a huge stone in exchange for a fist fight. Lastly, “The Battle of Wits,” usually a nerve-racking matter, the Sicilian ends up literally dying of laughter till he is blue in the face. He agrees to this gamble unknowingly that Westley was immune to the lethal drug iocane involved, with his “know it all,” and naive personality getting the best of him. The audience is able to connect with these “henchman” as they are nonthreatening and purely present to create a playful atmosphere. Furthermore, these out of the ordinary, gullible villains, offer little opposition, but are a crucial aspect of the plot, by entertaining with the chatty duels that they engage in with