SRL's Female Characters

[dgan]

This forum hasn't had a popular thread in a while. I think I've got a good topic.

What do you think of the way Lawhead portrays women in his books?

I have always thought he uses a pretty good balance of wonderful, meaningful characters without compromising the cultural climate of the setting. Then again, I'm neither woman nor expert on them. I know we have tons of highly intelligent women on this site - I'm interested to know what everyone thinks.

[twyrch]

I thought it was great to see a female in a Leading Role of the Celtic Crusades... He has many female heroians, but not many books where a female is the main character.

[calixar]

His representation of women, IMO, is the same as with men... very real. As with many of the male characters in his books, the women all remind me of people I've met.

SRL is obviously an observer... picking his characters' traits from the traits of actual people.

[amodman]

twyrch said:

I thought it was great to see a female in a Leading Role of the Celtic Crusades... He has many female heroians, but not many books where a female is the main character.

And people that would argue and say he should have more female leads...well...he's a male, lol. It's obviously a lot easier to get inside the mind of your own sex, but I concur with Claixar.

[Skye]

dgan said:

I have always thought he uses a pretty good balance of wonderful, meaningful characters without compromising the cultural climate of the setting.

I agree. Lawhead has given his female characters as much importance as they would have had in the era he recreates, and as much to do. I've never had anything to complain about Lawhead's treatment of women...and believe me, I'm hyper sensitive to treatment of women characters!! His characters are very very real whether they be male or female.

[dgan]

skye said:

...and believe me, I'm hyper sensitive to treatment of women characters!!

I'll remember that. ;D

I find it interesting that he not only has very dynamic characters (like Charis), but he also has so much diversity of roles within the same story. Many authors tend to create a stereotype and stamp it out in other characters throughout the book.

It seems like such a challenge, balancing the wide array of attitudes that existed in the era he writes about with the attitudes of today. I agree he does a great job. I appreciate that he makes his characters so real - saints are saints and monsters are monsters. And everything between.

[Riothamus]

And here I was thinking how interesting it was that in Avalon all of his "good" female characters (with one exception,) are known for their prowess in the kitchen.... (Though, really, that fact helps ease the book into Arthurian territory somehow.)

[calixar]

riothamus said:

And here I was thinking how interesting it was that in Avalon all of his "good" female characters (with one exception,) are known for their prowess in the kitchen.... (Though, really, that fact helps ease the book into Arthurian territory somehow.)

It's been a while for me... there are more than two female characters in Avalon?

[Child of Immanuel]

Only two 'main' females, but there's a few supporters.

[Riothamus]

Yup. And except for Morgian, some Anglo-Indian woman on the P.M.'s staff, and James' publicity lady, every single one of 'em is in some way domestic. I remember thinking of this while reading, and remarking on it (to myself) as an interesting way of keeping continuity of some sort between the Arthur-stories in the Pendragon Cycle, and the modern recasting.

[dgan]

Hmm...I seem to recall most the female characters in the entire Pendragon cycle (except in Atlantis, perhaps) were known for their food preparation. Elphin's mother and wife, Merlin's fiance, etc... all had moments of capturing the hearts of men with their cooking. I don't see Avalon as a departure from that. Perhaps the difference being Avalon's characters showed less "family" relationships, unlike the clans of Elphin's day.

[Daae]

I've always loved SRL's female characters. Especially Gwenhyvar(Pendragon Cycle) and Alethea(Celtic Crusades). Cait was neat, but man did she get on my nerves sometimes.

[Child of Immanuel]

I liked Cait- she's just like me. Umm... is there a reason you guys are lazing around here and not...

[Riothamus]

Hmm...I seem to recall most the female characters in the entire Pendragon cycle (except in Atlantis, perhaps) were known for their food preparation... [snip]... I don't see Avalon as a departure from that.

Exactly my point. It creates a point of continuity (though in some cases it sacrifices verisimilitude.)

[CynanMachae]

Yes, lets talk about Patrick... it's got two very lead females and Lawhead did a great job... y'know, with Sionan and Oriana. They are not stunning fighters, but they are essential to the book.