Blanche. Dorothy. Sophia. Rose. I was about eight years old when I first turned on the TV hoping that Nick-at-Night hadn't started yet because I knew that I would be unable to watch my cartoons. Realizing that it was too late, and I should probably just go to bed, I almost gave up on the television all together. But I didn't. First site of these four, independent women intrigued me. I was curious, as an eight year old, why a bunch of older women were on the television screen, when I could instead be watching Rugrats. But I didn't change the channel. I was hooked. Even though I was only eight years old, I understood most of the jokes and genuinely enjoyed the sitcoms campy story line. It wasn't until years later I realized the positive impact that show had on both my personal well being and development as a female. It pushed through the basic, masculine, patriarchal system that most television shows did not address. Yet, as a growing child, my subconscious mind appreciated the strong female leads as role models. It didn't take long to realize the underlying feminist messages The Golden Girls was broadcasting all over television. And I couldn't have been the only small child up a little past her bedtime, experiencing this sense of power and discovery for the first time. No, this was a show that, through the ages, has stood the test of time and is still being played on cable television to this day because it still has not lost its relevancy. Each character had a quirky personality trait that one of the other housemates would always tease, but never, would a housemate ask another one of her female roommates to change. Never would they try and tear each other down. Instead, they relied on each other to make it through the day and, ultimately, be their "happily ever after." A love story about four "sisters" who, through the test of time, will always be able to rely on each other. Below is a break down of each character and how they helped shape me over the years:
1. Blanche: Oh Blanche! A beautiful, older, independent women with a quirky and bossy demeanor about her that makes all the men go crazy. She doesn't let a man walk all over her and she uses her sexual side to help her obtain exactly what she wants, sex. And that is okay! It is completely normal for a women to desire sex from either the opposite or same sex all while being healthy and mindful about it. Women are taught at such an early age to repress their own sexual desires and by the time they reach puberty, they either don't understand that it is okay to tell a boy no, or they never explore themselves within which can potentially lead to a life of unsatisfied sexual experiences. But not Blanche, she stands strong and pushes the misogynists to the side and goes after what she wants. The best part about Blanche, though, is her independence. Sure, does she always have a man around, waiting somewhere in the depths of her bedroom sheets? Yes. But that's because she wants him there not because she has to have him. And that's important. Females do not need men in order to be happy, and vice versa. People need to find happiness within themselves before they can share it with others and Blanche proves just that.
2. Dorothy: Someone who taught me to never let others bring you down. People should be able to act and feel however they want without being worried that others are going to say something to try and tear them apart. Although Dorothy is the butt of most of the girls jokes (besides Rose) she never takes what they say to heart and always stays true to herself. She is caring, and although she always jokes about bringing her mother back to Shady Pines, she knows in her heart that she wouldn't be able to break her family bond. Dorothy understands the value of family, and that sometimes things have to be uncomfortable for a while in order to take care of the people we love. Her children occasionally visit, and she still tries and keeps a semi-healthy relationship with her ex-husband Stan. She is witty, strong minded and very opinionated; all traits in which I looked up to her for that. All character traits that, to this day, I respect. Girls need to realize that they can be both beautiful and intelligent and still be happy, whether they have a man or woman in their life or not. Do you people, and others will eventually follow.
3.Sophia: Growing up, I had the mother from hell. She was loud, abusive, an alcoholic and drug addict that had no concern for either her children or her husband. She was selfish and set in her ways, never taking responsibility for her actions and always the first to blame everyone else for theirs. Sophia, however, was not this mother. Watching the way Sophia allowed Dorothy to continue to grow even in her later years was heart warming and inspirational. Since I didn't really have a mother of my own, I inspired to be like Sophia one day, caring and witty. But Sophia went beyond that, she allowed Dorothy to make the mistakes that she once had to make her self so she can teach Dorothy that, once you get out to the other side, everything will be alright. Sure, Sophia's sarcastic tendencies can prove to be a bit overplayed and unnecessary at times, but that's what make her character so strong. Here is this 80 year old women, kicking back, eating cheesecake and making jokes with her daughter and her best friends. Her life is great even though her husband died years ago. She relies on herself and sometimes is stubborn about asking for help even when it's necessary, but that hyper-prideful personality is what got her where she is today. Sitting in her living room, making fun of Dorothy's height, watching Blanche come in and out of the front door, and trying to avoid making fun of anything Rose says about St. Olaf.
Rose: And then, there was rose. Rose was always my favorite character for so many reasons. Her genuine passion and optimism in life was contagious and she had a heart of gold. At the drop of a hat she would have done anything for her "sisters", not because she was trying to gain their affection, but because she knew she already had their love and wanted to reciprocate it back. Rose comes from a small town somewhere near Minnesota called St. Olaf, and her small town ties really brings out the best in her personality. She can almost relate everything back to the place where she grew up, and even though the girls get slightly hardhearted about all the St. Olaf talk, they listen to what she has to say before jumping down her throat. Rose, has always been my favorite character. I see a lot of the same characteristics in her, that I do in me, and she taught me to never try to be someone your not. I dress weird, I am quirky and loud, I talk non-stop very fast and I always wear my heart on my sleeve. I am emotional and demanding but passionate about the things I love. And if I love you, I will do anything for you. I am loyal and loving and I make sarcastic jokes all the time because sometimes that makes things easier to deal with. And that's what I see in Rose. I see Rose holding onto the idea of St. Olaf in anyway she can because she doesn't want to forget. She doesn't want to lose these wonderful memories she once had, so she brings them to the girls to pass down a bit of her childhood. She wants the girls to hold onto some of her memories because they mean so much to her that she can't help but share her time spent milking three cows and a dozen goats each night before bed. And that's why Rose is great. Because she not only loves her past and her present situation, but because she wants to combine the both of them together so she can stay living in this fantasy world. Because that's okay. Because Rose is happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment