WEEK 4: The Secret History of Wonder Woman – Jill Lepore (2014)

                My girlfriend is a big fan of Wonder Woman, especially the recent adaptation starring Gal Gadot in 2017. She’s read some of the comics, as have I, so when we together began to learn the deeper history behind the character, which was only expounded upon in Jill Lepore’s The Secret History of Wonder Woman, we were both, needless to say, more than a bit surprised.

Wonder Woman first debuted with DC comics in 1941, created by Charles Moulton – the creator of the lie detector. The Amazonian goddess was designed as a feminist icon, intended to empower women and establish an icon for them to look up to. But the history of the character is a muddled one, and often mired in the murky, sometimes hypocritical personal life of the creator – Moulton. Moulton very frequently featured varying degrees and forms of bondage, and Wonder Woman was constantly striving to free herself. If her arms and legs weren’t bound with rope, chains, or cords, her mouth was gagged or taped shut. All of these things naturally imply a sense of dominance, with Wonder Woman rendered helpless, at least at first. This feminist icon was perpetually stripped of her strength and control, and her ability to speak. What’s more, Moulton’s private life was rife with sexual oddities. From forcing his wife to endure a second woman living with them in their house, having threatened her with divorce, to having children with one of his students, it may seem clear to most that despite his ideals for the Wonder Woman character, Moulton had some very deep-seated issues with women that had not been worked out. And then only later, in the 1970s, we see a return of the iconic heroine. Only this time she had been given a new costume, and all of her abilities and equipment were gone. This of course was met with only outrage by the fans, one of which was known to have infamously stated to the writer at the time that he had taken the only powerful woman in comics and stripped her of her powers. Feeling and understanding this mistake, the writer returned both Wonder Woman’s powers and equipment.

                For what it’s worth, I do believe the character is in good hands at the moment. Wonder Woman is honestly the sort of personality, though fictional, who is capable of rising above her own questionable origins. Today she has been revived, re-written, and unleashed unto a new generation of fans, men and women alike. And the timing could not be better, or more appropriate, for this feminist icon.

                                       WEEK 3: True Grit – Charles Portis (1968)

                The novel True Grit, written by Charles Portis and published in 1968, as well as its two film adaptations from 1969 and 2010 respectively, reflect, I believe, a great deal more than just an old western. Apart from the story being a meaningful one, going far beyond the usual western tropes, True Grit explores the vengeance seeking Mattie Ross, and the bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn, whom she hires to help her exact her revenge. The story delves deeply into the mythology of the American landscape and worldview in several large ways. True, it challenges the stereotypes and expectations of women, but beyond this, the story also taps into the pulse of the eternal American mindset. The term “true grit” implies tremendous resolve, determination, and perseverance in the face of great adversity. While this film does take place in the “wild west”, the story has been retold numerous times throughout American history, though with characters wearing different faces, living in different times.

The founding of this country was handled by men and women with true grit. With the oppression of the English monarchy, the American colonies started a revolution, and broke away to eventually win their freedom, and establish a new nation – despite the unnumbered odds against them. Other historical heroes like Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr. follow similar archetypal roles. But on the other hand, particularly in this country where there is seeming epidemic for fame, status, and self-promotion, we certainly also have our LaBoeufs – men and women who lack true grit but have no qualms about riding the coattails of those who do for the sake of their own gain and pride. This is a country of innovators and imitators – those who take charge, and those who follow and seek opportunity at every turn. And so once more, even though True Grit is on some level a classic western story or revenge, it is also a story that speaks deeply to the American consciousness, found within our nation’s own history

                               WEEK 2: Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen (1813)

                Pride & Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, and published in 1813, has been a deeply beloved novel for over 200 years, and the most amazing thing about it, save for the well-crafted characters, clever prose, and heartfelt message, is that it is, in my opinion, so incredibly relevant to today’s romantic climate. In the novel we have the conflict between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, an enormously wealthy aristocrat. He is the friend of Mr. Bingley, another wealthy aristocrat, who ultimately ends up marrying Elizabeth’s sister Jane. But Mr. Darcy is an aloof individual – running somewhere along the line of snobbish, at least at first glance. Elizabeth cares nothing about status, or the notion of marrying for anything other than love. And over the course of the story, we are shown that through the misconceptions perpetrated by others, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy seem fated to resent one another eternally. However, when the two begin to really communicate with each other, instead of heeding the constant advice and word of others, they begin to better understand. Both characters are secretly romantic in nature, and in the end, Mr. Darcy proposes, and Elizabeth at last accepts, for they recognize that there is a deep love between them.

                There is power in this notion or marrying for love, however, old-fashioned it might seem to us at times today. And yet funny enough, the idea of romantic love and marriage is a relatively new establishment culturally, deviating from thousands of years of traditionally arranged unions across much of the world. But the concepts explored in the novel are actually quite profound, and bear a lot of weight as the world continues to evolve, and societies change with it. For most these days, gone is the need for a spouse or partner in order to survive, or even live comfortably. The notion of “no man is an island”, is, to some extent, lost. Today, anyone, man or woman can hold a job and live a solitary life, if they so wish – at least here in the US. And so marrying for the sake of real companionship is paramount. Two people, I believe, must not only be able to work well with one another in a practical sense, but they must also love being in each other’s company. They have to communicate and listen, and work through their problems. They must take an active interest in each other’s lives as equals, even more so in a world that is now so full of distractions and obligations. We are busier than ever, and the world is more complicated than ever, and having the love of a true companion, versus a partner merely fulfilling a role, is to me far more valuable – it is priceless and rare.