Wicked Mommy Dearest

So, surprisingly, I had a difficult time getting through Emaré. I am not sure what happened between Sir Orfeo and Emaré but I was just not feeling this tale. With Sir Orfeo, I had all the elements that I like to see from a retelling: Supernatural elements, whimsical words, a drastic change from the original plot (like, hello!?, did NOT see that happy ending coming), and lots of lurrrrrve. But Emaré was just "meh" for me. Nothing really stood out to get me all hyped up about her or her story.

But, as anyone who knows me knows, I LOVED the evil, wicked, mother in law figure. Personally, my relationship with my mother-in-law isn't the best. In fact, it's pretty terrible since I don't like her and she doesn't like me. But that's neither here nor there. I have been WAITING DESPERATELY, for an evil female figure and she's finally here, guys! She's here!

I love evil. Whether that be good ol' Lucifer, Evil Queens, villains, monsters, Gretchen Weiners. I'm a fan, like you have no idea. So when I found an evil queen in Emare? It was on.

Seriously, she makes this story, for me. Her bitchy "unkind" words: YASS, The evil laugh/plot "Then said the angry queen, turning for home, 'I do not mean to stay to see you wed'". How you like them apples?! Then she writes a ton of "evil letters" that throw the whole plotline into disarray. And she's known as the "wicked queen". Like, that's awesome.

So thank GOD, for this evil queen because without her, I don't think I would have made it through Emaré's story. I don't think I would have a shred of interest.

Sweet Emaré's Sweet Come Back

Emaré must be my favorite tale by far.  In the face of death, Emaré/ Egaré somehow kills everyone with kindness and grace.  I wish I wasn't as petty as I am, because she is an absolute rock-star.  A humble upbringing by Dame Abró was clearly much better than her heathen father.  I find it interesting how no one questions anyone.  There is no "dude wtf" or "why did you replace me with the King of Sicily?"  (ALSO lol at his temporary blindness and instantly blaming it on fairies)

I'm very proud of her to have the strength to tell her father she will not marry him in the name of the Lord.  Still shocked that his first instinct was to cast his own daughter who he's seen for the first time in YEARS to sea with no resources.  But at the same time, I feel like a lot of people make rash decisions as such.

Emaré, now Egaré once she reaches Wales seems to experience one of the greatest fortunes the world could bestow upon her.   Much like our class discussion about the author giving the reader positive/life changing events, but taking away with tragedy (although this is of a higher scale than Sir Orfeo's) I find that it makes me want to keep reading.  Having a healthy boy and living to take care of him, then being cast off to sea AGAIN because of her husband's mom (talk about bad in-laws).

The way she goes about telling, or having Segramore tell them, both her father and husband who they are is extraordinarily eloquent.  She carries no hate in her which I know I would be FIRED UP if anything happened to me even remotely as terrible as that.  I'd say the lesson is to prove by doing and always strive to be the better person (and to raise even better kids).