When I heard the news of Carrie Fisher’s passing I was deeply saddened. It was literally like feeling “a disturbance in the force.” Princess Leia was the first heroine character I loved. Women of my age and from my country grew up in a world of princesses tales and telenovelas centered in the stereotypical damsel in distress storyline, where women are always rescued by male characters who, despite being secondary a great number of times, are the ones that take the credit for the heroism in the story. And among all those stories, Leia was different, a character that led me to become a fan of the saga, and consequently of Carrie Fisher. I still think that Leia is the strongest character even above Luke and Han Solo and that she could had been explored further and much better, without demeaning what she was (but that is the subject for another post).
It is no secret that fictional characters are important to children because they influence the way they begin to perceive reality. Perhaps thanks to Leia I have always been attracted to strong female characters who have the capacity to make incredible sacrifices, and with the same possibilities, tools and powers to save the world as their male counterparts do. And although in recent times the representation of heroines in popular culture is more frequent, there is still much to do and to explore in that field.
The problem is that there are still many who don’t have faith in them. I can’t find another better word. We need to believe more in them, to give them a chance. On one occasion someone who criticized my novel told me – “I like it but heroines are not profitable.” This single statement gave me more strength to continue creating heroic female characters. When I wrote the Lake of Miracles I knew that the heroic character and protagonist of my story had to be a woman. However, today I read what I wrote eight years ago, and now as a mother I feel different. Some of the concepts of heroism and how they should be reflected in fictional characters have changed. By the time I release my next novel The Medallion, a story based on the mythology of my first novel, you will realize how much those concepts have matured and transformed in my head.
I am glad that my daughter Eva for example now has more access to heroic female characters than me at her age. I recently went with her to see Moana, without imagining that this movie was going to become one of my favorite empowerment stories for girls. I witnessed the frenzy caused by Frozen and its female characters and although I am sick and tired of listening to “Let it go,” I admit that it’s a song that sends a message of security and acceptance specifically for girls, in a way that had not been done in Disney, except through messages in Brave and Mulan for example. I was the proudest mother last Halloween when in the middle of all the princesses my daughter was dressed up as Rey with lightsaber included, with me dressed up as Leia. I can’t wait for her to see the story of Jyn Erso in Rogue One, or to get close to characters like Hermione Granger, (by the way I still think that she alone could have sustained a fascinating magic saga), Katniss Everdeen, and Tris Prior. All of them are portrayals of women who become symbols of generations, capable of resisting tyrannies, with stories beyond their gender and stereotypes. They are girls who neither wait nor need to be rescued, who value their femininity but don’t cling to it as the core of their strength.
It also enrages me when I see weak and extremely popular female characters that instead of empower, demerit the value of women. I rather slap them in the face to see if they wake up from the lethargy. Such is the case of Bella Swan in the Twilight saga although in this particular case I must admit, and I admitted it some time ago in this blog, that Bella was redeemed for me in the film version at the end of the story. Although, if there is a prize for strong female characters there it should be given to the Cullen sisters.
But if you have to name a perfect heroine, I can’t think of any other: Daenerys Targaryen. She has it all. She is also a character who has evolved. We have seen her transformation, becoming a powerful, challenging, intelligent woman and the best thing is that we still have room to discover more of her.
I applaud all those authors and artists, men and women, who dare to create female characters who set an example. I feel it is a difficult task but it is our duty as artists to create women who empower others. Particularly in these times where it’s most necessary to demonstrate the heroic character and value of women. I leave you with some pictures and examples of the great heroines that I love!
Disney heroines
Moana
How far I go, nominated for the Oscars.
Elsa
I hope they don’t ruin her story with a love storyline. She doesn’t need that.
The YA heroines
Hermonie
Who votes for a Hermonie spin off ?
Katniss Everdeen
She had me at “I volunteer.”
Tris Prior
Rebel and confident. Until the end.
Bella
She improved when she turned. Paradoxically when she took her married name.
New heroines in the galaxy
Rey
Jyn
May the female force be with you.
The great epic heroine
Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons. Like this or do we need something else?
Now I want to hear your opinions. What heroic female characters have influenced you? Which ones could be stronger? Which do you dislike?
I can’t wait to introduce to you the female characters in The Lake of Miracles. Stay Tuned!
