tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post1551969815637220782..comments2024-03-27T06:42:26.250-07:00Comments on Seven Miles of Steel Thistles: Fairytale Reflections (10) Cassandra GoldsKatherine Langrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-11508210289978215652011-02-11T18:24:50.094-08:002011-02-11T18:24:50.094-08:00Brilliant, Cassandra (as I would expect!) I can al...Brilliant, Cassandra (as I would expect!) I can also still remember the shock and grief of it the first time my mother read me the story, but hadn't ever reflected on it as a writer. Now I can see why that 5 year old still loved the story, and why it held so much more power than the Little Matchgirl, which simply devastated me so that I never wanted to hear it again.Wendy Orrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16701556188885050883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-55199733965704123272010-12-01T01:54:31.971-08:002010-12-01T01:54:31.971-08:00Yes, Linda, you're right. The two are very mu...Yes, Linda, you're right. The two are very much entwined here - and that is a torturous combination. Your word "disempowerment" is perfect for her situation.Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01674923395134039554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-31331453487875880922010-11-25T09:47:36.751-08:002010-11-25T09:47:36.751-08:00Do agree about The Wild Swans, Lynn! But here the ...Do agree about The Wild Swans, Lynn! But here the pain and the voicelessness seem very much entwined to create a particularly cruel form of disempowerment?Linda Sargentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-22002500299016681982010-11-23T07:26:15.931-08:002010-11-23T07:26:15.931-08:00That's a really interesting comparison, Lynn! ...That's a really interesting comparison, Lynn! Must think on that further...Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-92210868021312363892010-11-23T06:21:18.444-08:002010-11-23T06:21:18.444-08:00Terrific post, Cassandra. The Little Mermaid was ...Terrific post, Cassandra. The Little Mermaid was also a favourite of mine as a child, although from an animated version (Reader's Digest (?!) narrated by Richard Chamberlain). It would be aired on television every so often, and I would be allowed to watch and each time afterword, would be a complete, tear-sodden wreck. I've since read the original, and feel the same way each time. <br /><br />Her lack of voice, I found so insufferably unfair. The constant pain of her new legs was one thing, but the giving up of her voice was quite another. It seems to resonate somewhat with the voiceless maiden in "The Wild Swans" chosen by Sue Purkiss here a couple of weeks ago.Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01674923395134039554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-87577656450625125362010-11-21T02:39:02.954-08:002010-11-21T02:39:02.954-08:00You learn all the basics of romantic love before y...You learn all the basics of romantic love before you hit kindergarten; I’m quite certain of that...Cassandra, that is so true! This is a marvellous post altogether and I just adore the Gatsby insight! OF COURSE.....<br /><br />As for Museum of Mary Child, if any publisher is reading this blog, do yourself a favour and get it published here! It's completely brilliant and NOT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE!<br /><br />And I quite agree with Amanda that not enough fuss was made of Clair de lune.adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-13348209350835169992010-11-20T21:27:33.377-08:002010-11-20T21:27:33.377-08:00Your writig is very evocative and inviting, Cassan...Your writig is very evocative and inviting, Cassandra. I've always believed my writing’s first duty is the gift of laughter. In the past, I've been scared to go for tears in my writing for fear of blundering into the dreaded 'purple writing' territory. But I love stories that can do it all: make me laugh, cry, cringe with tension, fume with anger, recoil with horror and gawp in stunned admiration at a perfect sentence.DC Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04769989982575828316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-72945219606909602342010-11-20T11:51:39.533-08:002010-11-20T11:51:39.533-08:00This is an outstanding post. I'm going to chew...This is an outstanding post. I'm going to chew on your analysis, Cassandra, for some time, and I can't wait to read your books.<br /><br />I think I read The Little Mermaid for the first time when I was around 10 or 11 and found it too disturbing to think about. The splitting of her tail into legs (giving her the potential for vulnerable human female sexuality) made me cringe. I wonder if younger children reading it get something quite different than a girl on the verge of puberty does.<br /><br />Your Gatsby parallel is wonderful. Thank you for such a thoughtful post.Cathrinhttp://www.cathrinhagey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-45141929519831772072010-11-20T08:17:56.094-08:002010-11-20T08:17:56.094-08:00Thank you for this, Cassandra and Kath! I almost c...Thank you for this, Cassandra and Kath! I almost chose The Little Mermaid myself, because it meant such a lot to me as a child and, as an adult, I was so incensed by what Disney did to it.<br /><br />The description of what it would feel like for the mermaid to walk on her new legs made a huge impact on me and I agree that story has everything.<br /><br />Another unrequited love story that spoke to me was Oscar Wilde's The Nightingale and the Rose.<br /><br />And this is strange because I don't actually believe in unrequited love!Mary Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-55670145582120034892010-11-19T07:42:05.337-08:002010-11-19T07:42:05.337-08:00Lovely post Cassandra. I love the idea of combinin...Lovely post Cassandra. I love the idea of combining stories with music. Your Little Mermaid reflection reminds me of a musical story I came across recently, based on the Scottish legend of the water horse: "Mister Stourworm and the Kelpie's Gift". Truly magical.Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-11805232448157971342010-11-19T04:11:38.774-08:002010-11-19T04:11:38.774-08:00What a brilliant analysis Cassandra! You know I to...What a brilliant analysis Cassandra! You know I too have an obsession with this story too and am working on a novel based on it so this was a fascinating take on it.<br />I think this tale, like all powerful myths, does indeed have that power to define us or create our reality, most likely at such a formative age.<br />Thank you for sharing this intimate and powerful reflection.Melpomene Selemidishttp://www.melanie.selemidis.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-63565763798708281652010-11-19T03:07:18.306-08:002010-11-19T03:07:18.306-08:00My goodness, THE Cassandra Gold! I loved her balle...My goodness, THE Cassandra Gold! I loved her ballet book Clair de Lune and tore a strip off her publisher for not making more of a fuss of it. I had no idea she had two more books out, and will try to get hold of them at once.<br />I also love the post.<br />AmandaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-16221607369361995122010-11-19T02:47:13.227-08:002010-11-19T02:47:13.227-08:00Thank you, Cassandra, for this brilliant examinati...Thank you, Cassandra, for this brilliant examination of a story that also speaks very powerfully to me, and has done for many years. When I first became ill with juvenile arthritis at 12, I identified very strongly with the Little Mermaid and used to pretend to myself that the pain was a price worth bearing for the sake of being able to participate in the world alongside others. Your words "another state of existence" say it all. And I love your alignment with Gatsby. I'd never thought of that! An inspiring piece, thank you again!Linda Sargentnoreply@blogger.com