Goddesses of Love: How the Romance Genre Has Embraced Feminine Myths and Archetypes PART 2
The realization of the virgin's maturity that comes with the attainment of intimacy is, again, both physical and spiritual. She transforms from girl to woman, from child to adult. Frequently in romance, the fulfillment of this transformation is shown through the portrayal of the heroine in the full fruit of motherhood with her hero, a complete and equal mate, by her side. While the potent role of motherhood is not the only way for women to validate their existence, this archetypal role has a heady resonance for romance readers and writers.
Though romance is primarily focused on the female experience, male archetypes are also explored. There is the dark male or devil, who is brought by the heroine's love into the light. Men in romance make their own journeys; for example, from knave to knight or even king - whether the journey actually moves him through those character roles or whether the hero finds the mythic king within himself. These roles of male power are transformed to shed their negative attributes in becoming fitting complements for the powerful female of romance.
A clear distinction between power and empowerment is made by the archetypal heroines of romance. While power in its most masculine and aggressive context seeks betterment over others, the feminine principle of empowerment is about equality of value, a balance of power. Perhaps this is why the myths of romance speak so strongly to generations of women who have lived the battle for equality.
Romance has found engaging, exciting ways to renew the myths of love, to take the same old characters, plots and themes and bring them to rousing life. By doing so in a way that is innately feminine, romance allows women to tap into their collective unconscious, their archetypal feminine roles and mythic powers. Through romance's memes, women are able to renew their sense of self-worth, their values and their own purity of intent, while keeping alive the appealing mythic knight on his charger, seeking his true mate and the true grail of love.
READ The Next Article in this series, "Tall, Dark and Handsome: The Themes, Symbols and Imagery at the Romance Genre's Heart," by Suzette L. Mako, next month here at Suite 101! Part of an ongoing series "In Defense of Romance."
(c)1997,1998 by Suzette L. Mako. Presented at Suite 101 with author's permission. All rights reserved, may not be copied in whole or in part without author's express
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