Lorelili's definitions
A usually beautiful, virginal, virtuous, and hopelessly passive young woman constantly in need of rescue by the dashing hero. She is portrayed as rather asexual and usually a foil for the assertive but dangerously seductive femme fatale.
While the damsel in distress makes appearances in many folk stories dating back to Antiquity and features in a few fairy tales, this passive heroine does not seem to make regular appearances until the Victorian era; the Middle Ages were idealized as a time of pre-industrial innocence and the Victorians projected their ideals of men and women onto their Medieval ancestors; the Industrial Revolution was in full swing and women, displaced from farms and entering the middle class, lost some autonomy over their lives and became more ornamental, more dependent on their husbands.
Damsels in distress are often shown tied to railroad tracks, to sawmill conveyor belts, or offered as sacrifice to a dragon (or King Kong) until her knight in shining armor arrives to save her in the nick of time.
While the damsel in distress makes appearances in many folk stories dating back to Antiquity and features in a few fairy tales, this passive heroine does not seem to make regular appearances until the Victorian era; the Middle Ages were idealized as a time of pre-industrial innocence and the Victorians projected their ideals of men and women onto their Medieval ancestors; the Industrial Revolution was in full swing and women, displaced from farms and entering the middle class, lost some autonomy over their lives and became more ornamental, more dependent on their husbands.
Damsels in distress are often shown tied to railroad tracks, to sawmill conveyor belts, or offered as sacrifice to a dragon (or King Kong) until her knight in shining armor arrives to save her in the nick of time.
A damsel in distress would not have fared well in Medieval Europe. Generally, European women in the Middle Ages were not expected to be these timid shrinking violets; Christina of Markyate (who resisted a forced marriage and followed her dream of becoming a holy woman), Marjorie of Carrick, Christine de Pisan (a proto-feminist of sorts), Margery Kempe (another mystic), and Nicola de la Haye (led her castle against a siege in her 60s) are just a few of examples of women who took the reins in their own lives.
Women of that time and place were in danger of abduction, especially if they were wealthy... but it was preferable to a loveless marriage. The average "knight in shining armor" was a mix of professional assassin and local rapist, so the damsel often arranged to be kidnapped by her preferred suitor or even do the abducting herself:
Marjorie of Carrick (c. 1253-1292) was a countess in her own right, but was married young to an older husband who died in the Crusades in 1271; she was informed of this by her husband's handsome young companion, Robert de Brus. Marjorie, out hunting at the time and far from upset by the news, was so taken by his beauty that she took him back to her castle and held him captive until he agreed to marry her; she must have done something right, because they were married within days. The second of their eleven children was Robert the Bruce himself.
Women of that time and place were in danger of abduction, especially if they were wealthy... but it was preferable to a loveless marriage. The average "knight in shining armor" was a mix of professional assassin and local rapist, so the damsel often arranged to be kidnapped by her preferred suitor or even do the abducting herself:
Marjorie of Carrick (c. 1253-1292) was a countess in her own right, but was married young to an older husband who died in the Crusades in 1271; she was informed of this by her husband's handsome young companion, Robert de Brus. Marjorie, out hunting at the time and far from upset by the news, was so taken by his beauty that she took him back to her castle and held him captive until he agreed to marry her; she must have done something right, because they were married within days. The second of their eleven children was Robert the Bruce himself.
by Lorelili October 10, 2011
Get the damsel in distressmug. The highest social class in pre-modern societies and even in a few contemporary societies, and the status and title of a noble are usually inherited; basically another term for aristocrats, a tiny group of elite people who are omnipotent over the common people.
Nobles are born into wealth and power and often into politics, regardless of their merit to these privileges; peerage is the legal system to constitute the various hereditary titles.
From highest to lowest rank, the most common peerage titles are:
-duke and duchess
-marquis and marquise
-earl/count and countess
-viscount and viscountess
-baron and baroness
Under a feudal system, the nobility earned property from the monarch through military service.
Nobles are born into wealth and power and often into politics, regardless of their merit to these privileges; peerage is the legal system to constitute the various hereditary titles.
From highest to lowest rank, the most common peerage titles are:
-duke and duchess
-marquis and marquise
-earl/count and countess
-viscount and viscountess
-baron and baroness
Under a feudal system, the nobility earned property from the monarch through military service.
The peasants resented the nobility for their frivolity, but at least these farmers had little to lose; the courts of the elite were swarming with ruthless intrigue, often with plots of overthrowing the royal family. Noblewomen were married off young, had little real power, and just served to manage households and produce many children (who were raised by nannies) to continue the family dynasty, never free to live or choose as they wanted.
Nobility had/have everything to lose: wealth, reputation, position, allies, public support, political influence, and life. A very public life with numerous people breathing down one's neck and threats on one's person did not help matters, either.
Nobility had/have everything to lose: wealth, reputation, position, allies, public support, political influence, and life. A very public life with numerous people breathing down one's neck and threats on one's person did not help matters, either.
by Lorelili February 20, 2011
Get the nobilitymug. Taken from the ancient Greek character who fell in love with his own reflection.
Somebody who is completely in love with himself/herself and most likely is intensely turned on by their relection. Somebody who is too vain and self-absorbed to notice other people.
Somebody who is completely in love with himself/herself and most likely is intensely turned on by their relection. Somebody who is too vain and self-absorbed to notice other people.
I would not be the least bit surprised if Narcissus were from the United States; self-aborbed, self-important, jingoistic, bewildered at the thought that there are others in the world besides us... the U.S. seems to be the perfect breeding ground for narcissists.
Ann Coulter (to the mirror): Hello, beautiful. I'm so lucky to have you-! (kisses herself)
Bill O'Reilly (as he beats off at his reflection): God-! Gotta-have-that-!
Ann Coulter (to the mirror): Hello, beautiful. I'm so lucky to have you-! (kisses herself)
Bill O'Reilly (as he beats off at his reflection): God-! Gotta-have-that-!
by Lorelili February 16, 2009
Get the narcissistmug. Cute little race of people who exist in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tiny in stature (adults standing three to four feet tall); rather plump in body; with big, hairy feet; pointy ears; long, curly hair on their heads; and infectuous enthusiasm for life and won't turn down a good party or open displays of affection. Their natural habitat is the Shire, although , some have moved elsewhere.
The Elves, pretty; Humans, also nice to look at... but the Hobbits! They're so cuuuuuute! I just want hug them! ...but I'm afraid that I'd strangle them.
by Lorelili March 25, 2005
Get the hobbitmug. To be thoughtful. To think about something. Often in a dreary or depressing manner.
After Lord Byron, poets are usually thought of as having a very gloomy, brooding personality.
After Lord Byron, poets are usually thought of as having a very gloomy, brooding personality.
Christian and Erik are a cute couple... but they're so different at times! Christian's the bubbly one, Erik's the brooding one.
by Lorelili July 7, 2005
Get the broodmug. One's moral sense of what is right or wrong, and especially how it affects one's behavior. One's moral compass.
However much that I wanted to vegetate and indulge myself while the cleaners cleaned my house, my conscience tugged at my mind, telling me to keep busy and see if they needed anything.
A small minority of people are born without a conscience and a similar number of people never develop one. Psychopaths are those born without a conscience and most sociopaths are not given a chance to develop theirs. And hence they are not bothered or remorseful about their antisocial behavior.
A small minority of people are born without a conscience and a similar number of people never develop one. Psychopaths are those born without a conscience and most sociopaths are not given a chance to develop theirs. And hence they are not bothered or remorseful about their antisocial behavior.
by Lorelili July 28, 2011
Get the consciencemug. An ancient warrior queen of the Iceni, a Celtic tribe in Britain during the time of Emperor Nero. When her husband died, the Romans ignored his will, which stated that his daughters and Rome were to rule his kingdom jointly; Boudica was flogged while her daughters were raped. Infuriated, Boudica rallied her people and neighboring tribes in a violent campaign against Roman occupation.
Boudica's people sacked many Roman forts, including London and Colchester, slaughtering their inhabitants and sending the survivors running... until Suetonius regrouped his army in the Midlands and defeated the indigenous army. Boudica poisoned herself to avoid capture.
Boudica's people sacked many Roman forts, including London and Colchester, slaughtering their inhabitants and sending the survivors running... until Suetonius regrouped his army in the Midlands and defeated the indigenous army. Boudica poisoned herself to avoid capture.
Boudica, refusing to let her Roman attackers wrong not only herself and her daughters but their people, showed the Roman Empire that women could kick ass as well as any man.
by Lorelili January 24, 2011
Get the Boudicamug.