For much of the 20th century, women on screen often appeared as “damsels in distress”—sometimes as love interests, other times as sisters, mothers, or daughters—but typically as characters with limited agency compared to their masculine counterparts. Think Mary Sues and Manic Pixie Dream Girls.These one-dimensional portrayals established a pattern that became a recognizable cinematic shorthand.But things have changed. These days, female characters are much more likely to solve their own problems and drive their own stories. That said, we still see echoes of the old damsel trope. Sometimes filmmakers use it knowingly (with a wink), flip it completely, or mix strength with vulnerability.Let’s learn about the damsel in distress and how (if you like) you can use the trope in your writing.What Is a Damsel in Distress? A damsel in distress is essentially a female character who exists primarily to be rescued by the hero. This character trope has been a staple in storytelling for centuries.In its most basic form, the damsel has little to no agency of her own. She's beautiful, vulnerable, and completely dependent on the male protagonist to save her from whatever danger she faces. Her purpose in the story is rarely about her journey but instead serves as a plot device to showcase the hero's bravery and strength.Ironically, the damsels in distress are usually elemental in the climax: being all pretty and needy, waiting for their “knight in shining armor.” A polite way to objectify women, indeed! The damsel in distress trope—whether featuring a sister, lover,...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - 7 days ago