In the novel The Princess Bride, William Goldman illustrates the theme that “Life is not fair, it is just fairer than death” by “abridging” S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventures. Firstly, Goldman satirizes the romance genre to reveal a collective idealism embedded within human nature. Then, he uses metafiction to contrast the parallel stories between Westley and Buttercup to Goldman and Helen. Lastly through Domingo, Yeste, and Inigo’s stories, the author illustrates life’s imperfection.
Westley and Buttercup have an ideal love story, where they overcome all the hardship and obstacles along their archetypical love journey. Goldman satirizes the romance genre by fantasizing the artificial love between Westley and Buttercup. …show more content…
Inigo Montoya lives in the mountains of Central Spain with his father, Domingo Montoya. Domingo Montoya is known as the best sword maker, and he has spent an entire year, every day and night in making the greatest sword since Excalibur for Count Rugen, the six-fingered man. Domingo seeks for perfection, even if it means with the price of his health. Domingo’s attitude towards sword making, his hardwork, and the amount of responsibility he puts in shows that ones hardwork is not always the expected outcome, since Count Rugen does not recognize his work of art. Goldman uses artist as an example, where Domingo says earlier, “After a lifetime. Inigo. Inigo. I am an artist”(130). This not only foreshadows his later death, but it also suggests that some individual’s potential and hardwork are not recognized until maybe after their death. In contrast, the Yeste, who is not as great as sword making as Domingo, have his work widely appreciated by the people. As Domingo’s health slips away from him as time passed, Yeste’s figure, fame and loneliness only spread. As Domingo takes his responsibility and seeks for perfection, Yeste increased his price to reduce the amount of work he has to encounter. However, this does not change the fact that people goes to the famous and most honored Yeste to make them swords rather than Domingo, who makes fabulous swords. Reflecting how individuals do not always get rewarded for their
Westley and Buttercup have an ideal love story, where they overcome all the hardship and obstacles along their archetypical love journey. Goldman satirizes the romance genre by fantasizing the artificial love between Westley and Buttercup. …show more content…
Inigo Montoya lives in the mountains of Central Spain with his father, Domingo Montoya. Domingo Montoya is known as the best sword maker, and he has spent an entire year, every day and night in making the greatest sword since Excalibur for Count Rugen, the six-fingered man. Domingo seeks for perfection, even if it means with the price of his health. Domingo’s attitude towards sword making, his hardwork, and the amount of responsibility he puts in shows that ones hardwork is not always the expected outcome, since Count Rugen does not recognize his work of art. Goldman uses artist as an example, where Domingo says earlier, “After a lifetime. Inigo. Inigo. I am an artist”(130). This not only foreshadows his later death, but it also suggests that some individual’s potential and hardwork are not recognized until maybe after their death. In contrast, the Yeste, who is not as great as sword making as Domingo, have his work widely appreciated by the people. As Domingo’s health slips away from him as time passed, Yeste’s figure, fame and loneliness only spread. As Domingo takes his responsibility and seeks for perfection, Yeste increased his price to reduce the amount of work he has to encounter. However, this does not change the fact that people goes to the famous and most honored Yeste to make them swords rather than Domingo, who makes fabulous swords. Reflecting how individuals do not always get rewarded for their