Female watchmen
- Thread starter Jizburg
- Start date
A very good question. I think that Terry is uncomfortable in trying to portray "normal" women--even in MR, Polly is the closest thing to a normal human female. And even then, all of them are being used to make a point about the discrimination against women.
Actually, have you noticed that there are very few female characters (of any species) in Terry's books?
Actually, have you noticed that there are very few female characters (of any species) in Terry's books?
Yep, it's something I've wondered at as well. Most people don't know that Angua is a werewolf, so they presumably think she is a normal human woman. You would think that women in A-M seeing her doing so well in the Watch, would be inspired to join up themselves.
A question to ask Terry should you ever meet him I think.
A question to ask Terry should you ever meet him I think.
Tonyblack said:
Yep, it's something I've wondered at as well. Most people don't know that Angua is a werewolf, so they presumably think she is a normal human woman. You would think that women in A-M seeing her doing so well in the Watch, would be inspired to join up themselves.
A question to ask Terry should you ever meet him I think.
A question to ask Terry should you ever meet him I think.
one of many questions i have to him do you know if he has like a fan mailbox or something?
Mrs. Cake - Mrs. Cosmopolite - Mrs. Palm - all formidable human ladies although Mrs. Cake is arguably 'gifted' if not actually a witch and seems to be 'well-respected'.
In the Guilds in A-M they're actually more consistently represented or at least mentioned more than the men (the Assassins have had 2 incumbents and the Thieves rarely get a mention or have anything to do after CoM/LF) whereas Rosie and Molly are there in passing a lot more.
In the Guilds in A-M they're actually more consistently represented or at least mentioned more than the men (the Assassins have had 2 incumbents and the Thieves rarely get a mention or have anything to do after CoM/LF) whereas Rosie and Molly are there in passing a lot more.
I have to totally disagree with you there. Fantasy in general is a male-dominated genre where women are mostly used as sex objects.
And while early on Pterry did rely too much on these stereotypes and took awhile to start developing fully fleshed out female characters (one could argue whether this started with the Granny Weatherwax of Equal Rites, Esk, or Isabel(sp.) of Mort), but once he published Wyrd Sisters he became one of the few writers in the genrewho has developed a very rich set of well (narratively) developed female characters.
Women like Susan, Granny Weatherwax, Angua, Tiffany, Polly, and Glenda are some of the most resourceful and strong-willed characters in his books and generally possess far more intelligence and common sense then the men with whom they interact. Female sidekicks and supporting females like Sacharisia, Spike, Nanny Ogg, Magrat, Agnes, Sally and Cheery are all well developed characters that make vital contributions to the resolutions of their narratives. Even someone like Lady Sibyl(sp.), who Pterry could have easily allowed to remain a one-dimensional goof on the aristocracy, has evolved to become a highly intelligent, strong-willed woman who makes vital contributions toward solving Vimes' problems.
And let's not forget the most powerful female on the discworld--Rhys, King of the Dwarfs.
Tonyblack said:
Do you mean Dotsie and Sadie, the Agony Aunts?
Dolly Sisters is an area in A-M, not and people as such.
There are human women in the books - Sybil, Saccharissa, Miss Dearheart, Queen Molly and Mrs (wossname from the UU kitchens) to name but a few.
Dolly Sisters is an area in A-M, not and people as such.
There are human women in the books - Sybil, Saccharissa, Miss Dearheart, Queen Molly and Mrs (wossname from the UU kitchens) to name but a few.
yes those are women from the books.. but very few of the "normal" women in the books has had a "big" role.. the only ones i can remember is the night kitchen girls in Unseen academicals. were they did have big roles.
and in monstruos regiment
and by "normal" women i mean Humans of the female persuasion that is not a witch or a vapire or a werewolf or any other sutch thing.
so i still think that it is strange that more women have not joined the watch i mean Angua is officialy a human. that should give more women that idea.
(sorry about my bad english.. english is not my first language)
Jan Van Quirm said:
Mrs. Cake - Mrs. Cosmopolite - Mrs. Palm - all formidable human ladies although Mrs. Cake is arguably 'gifted' if not actually a witch and seems to be 'well-respected'.
In the Guilds in A-M they're actually more consistently represented or at least mentioned more than the men (the Assassins have had 2 incumbents and the Thieves rarely get a mention or have anything to do after CoM/LF) whereas Rosie and Molly are there in passing a lot more.
In the Guilds in A-M they're actually more consistently represented or at least mentioned more than the men (the Assassins have had 2 incumbents and the Thieves rarely get a mention or have anything to do after CoM/LF) whereas Rosie and Molly are there in passing a lot more.
