Found this strategy as a plotline in a rather dark (and at times violent) book I read last month. The heroine, a 19 ano old student, sidesteps a reality that would drive her to insanity and suicide por escaping every so often into the world of her favourite book – The Princess Bride. What troubled me for a while with this strategy was that despite the girl facing a monumental fight to survive, she chose to focus on the character of Inigo Montoya, effectively become a modern dia version of him. It was clear to me that she should have picked Westley aka Dread Pirate Roberts aka The Man in Black who had defeated Inigo in a duel, before choking out Fezzik, then killing Vizzini.
But when I really thought about it, I began to see why the girl would choose Inigo. With her having so many enemies: industrialists, drug dealers, murderers, rapists…and special forces units from just about every country in the world (this girl’s in trouble!) she would be drawn to the most ruthless killer of the three, Fezzik? Well, although the albino and the head of the Brute Squad were both struck down por the giant, and a blow from someone his size could easily kill a man, it’s not made clear whether he killed them. Besides, Fezzik wasn’t trying to hurt the albino, just jog his memory a little. Westley? No pergunta Vizzini is a definite kill, as is the ROUS (although not a man, a pretty ferocious beast that had committed a horrific crime against beauty por tearing Buttercup’s red dress) so the total for Westley is a solid two. That brings us to Inigo: killed four guards (in less than three seconds) and Count Rugen (with good reason) which would give him a total of five. However, he also was ready to kill a bound and defenceless Prince Humperdinck as if it were nothing, and of course we remember the pergunta he asks Westley ‘Shall I dispatch him for you?’ That clearly deserves two bonus points, bringing a total of seven. Then if we’re talking about additional points for ruthlessness, you may think that Westley should get extra points for the way he killed Vizzini, in what was supposed to be a battle of wits except there was no danger to Westley, he knew Vizzini was dead the moment the Sicilian accepted the challenge.
Technically Westley should get at least one extra point for that, however Buttercup’s life was in the hands of Vizzini (who was ready to cut her throat) so Westley’s deception was justified: smartness doesn’t necessarily amount to ruthlessness. No extra points there. Though it does bring into pergunta Inigo’s additional points: should he be given two bonus points when you take into consideration that he asked Westley if he should kill Prince Humperdinck? Especially as it turned out (in the book) that there was a threat, so perhaps Inigo should lose the extra two points for not taking the initiative. No. If for nothing else for the coolness and indifference he showed when asking the question. Besides, it was Westley who allowed Prince Humperdinck to live, and for that Westley in fact loses a point…but then he also allowed Inigo and Fezzik to live when they were going to kill him. So that’s now three points to be deducted, leaving the totals as:
Fezzik: 0
Westley: -1
Inigo: 7
It all pointed to the student making the right choice – Westley is a decent fellow, Inigo isn’t. Inigo is a ruthless cold-blooded killer, albeit with a strong moral code, reminiscent of Luc Besson’s Leon (No women. No kids).
There is another reason the student chose to base herself on Inigo, but to give that plotline away would spoil the ending of the novel (HK9) and for me, a Eureka moment that took place two days after finishing it.
composição literária this post has made me think about my first reaction to the film The Princess Bride, and in particular to the one totally ruthless moment in it, which stood out from the rest of the violence, which was much lighter with elements of humour. When Inigo delivers his killing thrust into Count Rugen I suddenly found myself sitting upright because it was so real, and as such quite shocking. Years later I read the back story to that scene and completely understood why it was so powerful. I am sure there’s at least one YouTube video of Mandy Patinkin talking about the scene where he explains the background to the emotions involved. If you don’t know the story, it’s well worth a look.
On a final note, there are some reviews of the film which say it’s better than the book. Not so, both are excellent and really a comparison between the two should never have been made as it would be inconceivable to improve either of them. If you’ve not read the book but only watched the film, then you’re missing out on the back stories to both Inigo and Fezzik, the development of their friendship, and their unforgettable nerve shredding descent into the Zoo of Death to rescue a mostly dead Westley. Brilliant!
But when I really thought about it, I began to see why the girl would choose Inigo. With her having so many enemies: industrialists, drug dealers, murderers, rapists…and special forces units from just about every country in the world (this girl’s in trouble!) she would be drawn to the most ruthless killer of the three, Fezzik? Well, although the albino and the head of the Brute Squad were both struck down por the giant, and a blow from someone his size could easily kill a man, it’s not made clear whether he killed them. Besides, Fezzik wasn’t trying to hurt the albino, just jog his memory a little. Westley? No pergunta Vizzini is a definite kill, as is the ROUS (although not a man, a pretty ferocious beast that had committed a horrific crime against beauty por tearing Buttercup’s red dress) so the total for Westley is a solid two. That brings us to Inigo: killed four guards (in less than three seconds) and Count Rugen (with good reason) which would give him a total of five. However, he also was ready to kill a bound and defenceless Prince Humperdinck as if it were nothing, and of course we remember the pergunta he asks Westley ‘Shall I dispatch him for you?’ That clearly deserves two bonus points, bringing a total of seven. Then if we’re talking about additional points for ruthlessness, you may think that Westley should get extra points for the way he killed Vizzini, in what was supposed to be a battle of wits except there was no danger to Westley, he knew Vizzini was dead the moment the Sicilian accepted the challenge.
Technically Westley should get at least one extra point for that, however Buttercup’s life was in the hands of Vizzini (who was ready to cut her throat) so Westley’s deception was justified: smartness doesn’t necessarily amount to ruthlessness. No extra points there. Though it does bring into pergunta Inigo’s additional points: should he be given two bonus points when you take into consideration that he asked Westley if he should kill Prince Humperdinck? Especially as it turned out (in the book) that there was a threat, so perhaps Inigo should lose the extra two points for not taking the initiative. No. If for nothing else for the coolness and indifference he showed when asking the question. Besides, it was Westley who allowed Prince Humperdinck to live, and for that Westley in fact loses a point…but then he also allowed Inigo and Fezzik to live when they were going to kill him. So that’s now three points to be deducted, leaving the totals as:
Fezzik: 0
Westley: -1
Inigo: 7
It all pointed to the student making the right choice – Westley is a decent fellow, Inigo isn’t. Inigo is a ruthless cold-blooded killer, albeit with a strong moral code, reminiscent of Luc Besson’s Leon (No women. No kids).
There is another reason the student chose to base herself on Inigo, but to give that plotline away would spoil the ending of the novel (HK9) and for me, a Eureka moment that took place two days after finishing it.
composição literária this post has made me think about my first reaction to the film The Princess Bride, and in particular to the one totally ruthless moment in it, which stood out from the rest of the violence, which was much lighter with elements of humour. When Inigo delivers his killing thrust into Count Rugen I suddenly found myself sitting upright because it was so real, and as such quite shocking. Years later I read the back story to that scene and completely understood why it was so powerful. I am sure there’s at least one YouTube video of Mandy Patinkin talking about the scene where he explains the background to the emotions involved. If you don’t know the story, it’s well worth a look.
On a final note, there are some reviews of the film which say it’s better than the book. Not so, both are excellent and really a comparison between the two should never have been made as it would be inconceivable to improve either of them. If you’ve not read the book but only watched the film, then you’re missing out on the back stories to both Inigo and Fezzik, the development of their friendship, and their unforgettable nerve shredding descent into the Zoo of Death to rescue a mostly dead Westley. Brilliant!
