Buttercup is the main focus of this chapter. However, it begins by discussing the most beautiful women of the land preceding Buttercup. First a beautiful maid met her defeat by chocolate, then a beautiful women met her end by obsessing over her beauty. These things didn't end their lives, but they certainly ended their beauty. The result of this sequence of events is that Buttercup seems humble and down to earth. Her direct connection to Westley, the Farm Boy, is established early on, but it develops throughout the chapter.
Originally, Buttercup's feuding parents tell her to keep herself clean and beautiful so that she may impress the Boys of the village. However, Buttercup expresses no desire to seek these boys' favor. At the age of sixteen, when she has inevitably and unintentionally stolen the Boys' hearts and therefore distanced herself from the girls of the village, she reveals the true reason that these boys don't appeal to her.
When the Boys asked her if she needed any favors, she always replied that “the Farm Boy does that.” When Buttercup bashes the Farm Boy with an unending list of harsh demands, he simply replies, “As you wish.” This foretells his fondness for Buttercup. Until the end of this chapter, Buttercup neither recognizes her feelings for Westley, or his feelings for her. She only notices this after the visit from the Count and Countess.
In the novel, it is announced that the turning point is when a the first rich man comes to sneak a peek at Buttercup's beauty. Shortly after, the Count and his exquisite Countess travel to Buttercup's family's farm to ask about their cows. They asked how the family maintained the best cows of the land, but since the cows were obviously terrible, they had to have had some ulterior motives. The Count wished to ogle at Buttercup himself. Likewise, when introduced to Westley, the Countess became mesmerized with him. This produced jealousy in Buttercup that provided the first inkling that she was in love with Westley.
When Buttercup realized that she was jealous of the Countess' infatuation with the Farm Boy, she fooled herself into believing that the he held the same feelings for the Countess. However, Buttercup's recurring stubbornness made her ignore his feelings. She went to his hovel to confess her feelings and showed the first sign of passion and love in her entire life. When she poured out her feelings, even going as far to shed her slightly mocking nickname, calling him her Westley, he shut the door in her face.
Buttercup wept and wept. After her period of grief came denial. She lied to herself and said that Westley was to stupid to respond. After more tears, now silent, she felt defeated, thinking she had no chance of winning the heart of one looked at by the Countess. Suddenly, after a full day of crying, Westley knocked on her door. She feigned fanciness and pretended that her confession was a joke, when something Westley said shocked her. He said “Good-by.”
To Buttercup's surprise, and confusion, Westley loved her too. He admitted that every time he said “As you wish,” he was really saying “I love you.” He told her he was leaving so he could seek his fortune in America. He wished to work hard enough to make money to buy his own farm there, so he could send for Buttercup to live with him. Then they had the greatest kiss of all time as they parted. Buttercup promised to never love anyone else.
After Westley left, Buttercup changed her life. She began bathing regularly, combing her hair, etc, and she became far more beautiful than she could've ever imagined. She became worried and jealous at one point, that Westley would find another woman to settle down with, but she buried those feelings because she knew Westley wouldn't want her to fret. She became easily angered when the village girls asked about Westley, but eventually the girls began acknowledging her again when they saw how in love she was. But one day, Buttercup received some bad news.
Westley's ship had been taken by pirates. This particular pirate captain, Dread Pirate Roberts, was known for not leaving survivors. Buttercup then secluded herself in sorrow and solitude. She barely ate enough to live and therefore became more beautiful. However she still promised never to love another, so she didn't. I understood all of the vocabulary in this chapter. A lot of repetition is used throughout. There is a fair amount of imagery, comedy, and sarcasm. It's a little complicated for me to focus on the story itself because I read so much about Goldman. I can't just think about Morgenstern's point or view because whatever Goldman thinks is basically here. It's a lot to take in at once, but I'm still definitely greatful for the abridgment. There's no way I would have been able to read the entire original Princess Bride. Should I have included "the" right there? Idk. Whatever. But anyway, the story is really touching at first. Buttercup sounds a little like my kind of girl at first, but then she worries herself sick over some dude. Well, some dude she loves. And honestly, I hate to say, that's like me too, at least with the guy I'm dating (and have been for almost two years) now.
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