swoon
Been reading Angela Carter's "The Bloody Chamber" these few days. Quite a good book, very sensual, not forgetting the beautiful language and dash of dark humour. I truly recommend it. Read it if you have time, and savour the nitty gritty details of it. Its a parody of fairy tales, somewhat, albeit with more gore and sex, but still quite enjoyable. I don't know why, but I have always enjoyed reading fairy tales, I can't figure out why, maybe because of the happy endings? But the irony of it is that my favourite, The Little Mermaid, is one of the minority that ends in a tragedy.
Anyway back to the book at hand. Phrase of the day:
"she's the divinity he's come to worship."
Oh let me swoon. How passionate is that? Ah, love with a fervour and desperation just warms me to the toes. Somehow, when I read this phrase, I was reminded of a certain scene that I chanced upon today at Woodlands Terminal. Well, there was this teenage couple walking together. The laces of one of the girl's sneakers came off. And do you know what the guy did????????
He kneeled down before her and promptly tied it for her. No shame, no embarassment in such an act of servitude. I thought, "What kind of wuss is he?? Can't the girl tie her own shoelace?" I scrutinised the girl and realised that she was wearing a denim mini skirt that is all the rage this days, and bending over to tie her shoelace in that would risk her modesty. What sensitivity this guy has! So well-attuned to the needs of his girlfriend and so willing to help and support her. I know, its just tying up a bloody shoelace but I think such a gesture speaks volumes. Don't you feel that actually kneeling down in front of someone symbolises submission, servitude, respect and even reverence? Like in the old days, where subjects have to bow or even kneel before royalty, in both western and eastern civilisations. So I guess the act of kneeling is quite universal in the message it conveys. And for a guy to actually kneel down before the girl just for the simple act of tying her shoelace, in a crowded area no less, I think it shows the humility that he has, the willingness to cast aside his male pride to be, simply, at her service. AH! Chivalry is alive!
I admit, I am a feminist. I do not need guys to open doors for me; I am perfectly well equipped to do so. I do not need guys to carry my heavy stuff for me if I can manage it. I do not appreciate being viewed as so weak to the point that I need someone to help me with everything. I do not, and cannot. It just defeats the purpose of having equality of the sexes. But well sometimes, seeing the act of chivalry in itself does really touch the feminine heart. I guess its something of the Cinderella complex. It usually refers to those successful career women who at the end of the day, all they want is to submit to and obey their male counterpart. And be a "xiao2 nu3 ren2" in other words, for lack of words in english. I'm probable guilty of that. I mean, who doesn't one to be pampered and loved? Who doesn't want to leave all their troubles to their partner in assurance that it all will be taken care of? But I think such actions should be mutual. A relationship shouldn't be one-sided or else both parties are not on equal standing in my opinion.
Haha, but who am I to be the authority on relationships when I have never been in one? So well, let me leave so I can indulge in fairy tale fantasies.
"Away before me to sweet beds of flowers!
Love thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers." -Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
Anyway back to the book at hand. Phrase of the day:
"she's the divinity he's come to worship."
Oh let me swoon. How passionate is that? Ah, love with a fervour and desperation just warms me to the toes. Somehow, when I read this phrase, I was reminded of a certain scene that I chanced upon today at Woodlands Terminal. Well, there was this teenage couple walking together. The laces of one of the girl's sneakers came off. And do you know what the guy did????????
He kneeled down before her and promptly tied it for her. No shame, no embarassment in such an act of servitude. I thought, "What kind of wuss is he?? Can't the girl tie her own shoelace?" I scrutinised the girl and realised that she was wearing a denim mini skirt that is all the rage this days, and bending over to tie her shoelace in that would risk her modesty. What sensitivity this guy has! So well-attuned to the needs of his girlfriend and so willing to help and support her. I know, its just tying up a bloody shoelace but I think such a gesture speaks volumes. Don't you feel that actually kneeling down in front of someone symbolises submission, servitude, respect and even reverence? Like in the old days, where subjects have to bow or even kneel before royalty, in both western and eastern civilisations. So I guess the act of kneeling is quite universal in the message it conveys. And for a guy to actually kneel down before the girl just for the simple act of tying her shoelace, in a crowded area no less, I think it shows the humility that he has, the willingness to cast aside his male pride to be, simply, at her service. AH! Chivalry is alive!
I admit, I am a feminist. I do not need guys to open doors for me; I am perfectly well equipped to do so. I do not need guys to carry my heavy stuff for me if I can manage it. I do not appreciate being viewed as so weak to the point that I need someone to help me with everything. I do not, and cannot. It just defeats the purpose of having equality of the sexes. But well sometimes, seeing the act of chivalry in itself does really touch the feminine heart. I guess its something of the Cinderella complex. It usually refers to those successful career women who at the end of the day, all they want is to submit to and obey their male counterpart. And be a "xiao2 nu3 ren2" in other words, for lack of words in english. I'm probable guilty of that. I mean, who doesn't one to be pampered and loved? Who doesn't want to leave all their troubles to their partner in assurance that it all will be taken care of? But I think such actions should be mutual. A relationship shouldn't be one-sided or else both parties are not on equal standing in my opinion.
Haha, but who am I to be the authority on relationships when I have never been in one? So well, let me leave so I can indulge in fairy tale fantasies.
"Away before me to sweet beds of flowers!
Love thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers." -Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
posted by cosmo_surfer at 7:28 AM
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