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Fantasy Fiction and the Pussy Pass: Why we allow so many female characters to get away with anything and why this is bad writing steeped in antiquated chauvinist concepts

I just finished reading “The Last Mythal” series by Richard Baker. For those of you who do not know the work, it is a high fantasy novel series started in 2004 set in the shared literary world of “Forgotten Realms”. Although the story was strong and engaging with several interesting characters and a damn near perfect antagonist. But the series fell completely flat in the last 200 pages because the author allowed one of the single worst tropes in fantasy literature to taint an otherwise great story. That trope was, the unaccountable damsel.  ***Minor Spoilers***

The story revolves around an engaged couple. Both are long lived (natural life span of between 500 and 700 years) Sun Elves. Both are citizens of the xenophobic island nation of Evermeet. Both have important careers, Araevin is a wizard and artificer for one of the arcane towers of Evermeet (a school for magical learning) and Ilsevele is a spell archer of the Queens Guard (a highly prestigious military posting only granted to the most skilled warriors of their people). They have been engaged for nearly 20 years, which is the custom of their culture, and they are about to be married. 

His job at the tower forces him to travel outside of their tiny island nation often, while her job keeps her with their queen and at home. Still they see each other as much as possible, and are both very supportive of the others career. When tragedy strikes and a great threat is discovered, Araevin is called up to take on a dangerous quest to protect his people. Ilsevele demands to go with him. Throughout the first novel and half of the second, Ilsevele is a devoted and loyal companion and lover. She is a major asset on his quest and supports his decisions completely, often enhancing his strategies and offering wise council. At no point does this fall into the “He’s the man so he must lead” trope, but rather because of his training he is the only one who knows where they are going, and she recognizes and respects this fact. Her stalwart nature and uncompromising trust and loyalty to Araevin very quickly makes her my favorite character.  

Approximately half way through the second book this changes. On a long sea voyage she tells Araevin (out of the blue) that she will release him from their engagement because she sees how much he loves to travel and explore and she will always be a home body. Araevin swears that this is not true and that his love for her trumps any wonder lust he might have. They agree they will speak on this later, you know when they aren’t saving the fucking world (bull shit woman trope No.1: women have no sense of propriety). Just so you understand what I mean by that, at this point in the story the characters are traveling to a foreign land to search the wilderness for a wizard no one has seen in 5000 years so Araevin can unlock the power of an artifact that may allow them to stop the world from being over run by a demonic horde. So she picks this time to threaten to end a 20 year relationship due to her concerns about her fiancee’s desire to spend time out with the boys. Because obviously he doesn’t have enough on his plate.

At this point in the story Araevin is forced to transform himself. Not physically but spiritually, in order to command the magic necessary to control the artifact that may save the world. This pushes Ilsevele even further away (bull shit woman trope No.2: women are intimidated by strong men). The transformation may have made him a bit more distant, but in no way did it change his desires, his love, or his character. He didn’t become a different person, he became more intense. 

Now starts book three. Araevin and Ilsevele part ways because she is needed by her father, who is leading a crusade to stop the demonic horde, to take up a diplomatic role representing his army with several human factions. Araevin must begin yet another quest to piece together another artifact that will allow them to break the demon queens defenses and stop her ability to summon more demons. Enter “Starbrow” (not making that up, that’s his actual name in the book). He is a resurrected warrior who died 700 years ago defending the ruined city the demons now have under their control. He is sent with Ilsevele on her diplomatic mission, and low and behold after only a few days/weeks together she is in love with him beyond anything she has ever known and Araevin is nothing and she never loved him and everyone will just have to get over it (bull shit woman trope No.3: women can’t control themselves or their passions) along with (bull shit woman trope No.4: women have no sense of loyalty or faithfulness). They immediately start a physical relationship. Forget the fact that Araevin has now, at this point in the story, saved her, her father, their army, and an entire city from demonic enslavement and annihilation twice. Forget the fact that at the very moment She and Starbrow are having the conversation Araevin is literally fighting for his life to save her fathers crusade. None of that matters, her thighs are wet, and she needs Starbrow to knock some of the water off. It’s literally like Araevin never existed. Even Starbrow comments on it, and the gist of her response is, he will have to get over it. 

Finally, after literally returning from hell with the artifact that only he can use to save Ilsevele’s father’s crusade and stop the world from being over run by demons. Ilsevele breaks off her engagement to Araevin, telling him they never really loved each other. Here’s the kicker. No one ever calls her on it. Not one word from her father, who’s life and the lives of his entire army he owes directly to the man she is jilting. Her father immediately gave Starbrow and Ilsevele his blessing when they informed him. Not a word from their companions who have been with them through the entire ordeal. Not even the elven politicians who see this woman throwing away the single most powerful High Mage to exist in 5000 years. It’s a nonissue for everyone except Araevin who is heart broken.

None of that matters. Araevin still saves the world, Starbrow saves the day, and Ilsevele is named Queen of a new elven empire after her father dies. The end, with the last line of the series being Araevin acknowledging the pain he still feels for losing Ilsevele. 

***Discussion***

The problem with the example I just gave above is not that Ilsevele chose Starbrow, or that she betrayed Araevin, but rather the fact that no one called her on it.

It would be really easy to chalk this up to bad writing except it was too artificial. It felt as though the author had to do something to discredit her; to make her less than human. Ilsevele, in the first novel was stalwart, proactively devoted, accomplished, and determined. She was more than capable of facing any repercussions for her decisions. Yet her greatest betrayal, mistake or act of disloyalty (however you see it) was completely over looked. That single fact took Ilsevele from being a strong independent female character capable of facing the fall out of her choices to a puppy who peed on the carpet. Even less than that, because you would at least correct a puppy. 

I tell you all that to point out the fact that this trope is as old as fantasy itself. We see it as far back as Helen of Troy and Guinevere. This insidious idea that no matter how bad, or selfish a woman acts it will never affect her. The men will die, their homes and countries will be destroyed. Their people raped robbed and murdered. But there is never a personal accounting for a woman’s actions. This is directly linked to the historical concept that women are incapable of managing themselves and their emotions, therefore men must do it for them. 

This trope is just as vile today as it was three thousand years ago. And both male and female authors are guilty of it.