Gender Stereotypes In Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride

Rebeca Borges

Title

Gender bias is only one of the many issues in the film industry. It has been widely debated for years, but today’s modern audiences are sick and tired of the blatant discrimination. Throughout cinegraphic history, males dominated film, infront and behind the camera, and continue to fail in correctly representing women. Unfortunately, The Princess Bride is no different. The film follows a young man and his grandfather as they read of the wild adventures of two lost lovers, Westley and Buttercup. In the Fantasy Romance, The Princess Bride, Rob Reiner presents the idea that strength is ultimately produced through one's ability to love. Yet, true love’s magical ability to provide strength is held short in the presence of Princess

Buttercup.
True love fuels the male characters, Westley and Inigo, with impossible strength allowing them to overcome countless enemies and achieve their personal goals.

Westley’s undying love for Buttercup is displayed in his astonishing ability to survive countless barriers and enemies. In his attempts to save Princess Buttercup, he beats the master swordsman, Inigo, in a battle of swords and physically defeats a giant, Fezzik, by knocking him unconscious. Following this, he outsmarts Vizzini, an evil mastermind, in a battle of wits, overcomes death, and saves Buttercup from Prince Humperdink paralyzed through relying completely on his masterful ability to plan. Westley’s boundless love presents him with the motivation and courage that pushes him to take and conquer countless risks to reunite with Princess Buttercup. True love gives him the ability to survive and achieve his ultimate goal, to be with Buttercup. Similarly, Inigo Montoya's distinct paternal love provides him with the passion and strength needed to avenge the traumatic death of his father. To come face to face with the man who murdered his father, Count Rugen, he has challenged himself physically and mentally through

dutifully training and travelling far from home. In the climactic battle between them, he is initially defeated until he begins to repeat a mantra of revenge, “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father… prepare to die” which restores his energy. These words remind him of his love for his father which manifested as physical strength. His true love for his father gives him the power to defeat Count Rugen, giving him the same scars as Montoya was given as a child. Inigo Montoya’s love for his father is demonstrated through his swordsmanship and passion to avenge his father's tragic death just as Westley’s love for Buttercup is demonstrated through his strength and unimaginable ability to survive. Yet, this inherited strength is not expanded to the female characters.
Princess Buttercup is portrayed as weak and powerless, despite her powerful and unconditional love for Westley.

Princess Buttercup’s genuine love for Westley is displayed once she learns of his death, when she vows to never love another. A promise she does not break. Although, her fierce loyalty for Westley does not provide her with similar abilities and powers as her male counterparts. Throughout the film, she shows no ability to defend herself or the ones she loves. In the dreaded Fire Swamp, Westley is attacked by a R.O.U.S, or rodents of unusual size, while poor Buttercup stands idle by watching. She does not help Westley by fetching his sword or fighting the rodent herself, and opts to stand in shock. While true love encourages the male characters to take action and be brave, Princess Buttercup is left helplessly dependant on other characters in the film. Furthermore, she has little to no control over herself or any subjects, despite being a royal princess. Buttercup finds herself tossed from one man’s hand to another, whether it is physically, through being captured and carried by bandits, or metaphorically, through marriage. She is hopeless in the hands of these men and finds the only thing she has control over is her own life, causing her to contemplate or threaten suicide many times. The gender bias is clear. Love manifest for the men through strength and bravery, yet for Buttercup, whose love is arguably stronger than any other character, love manifests as

vulnerability and weakness.
In conclusion, Reiner attempts creating a powerful thematic statement of love and strength, yet he fails to fully present this idea through misrepresenting women as weak, dumb, and powerless. Although, the Princess Bride is a fun, family friendly film, in a second review it lacks focus and is not very thematically powerful. Reiner’s creates an unimaginable world of magic and adventure yet fails to create an accurate representation of one half of the population.