Have you ever, even somtimes, sympathised with those villians who are dramatised in movies and fiction, as kind hearted people with noble deeds? Something like, they rob banks but they also give plenty to the poor. Worse still, especially when it’s a love story with handsome characters, you go ahead and analyse their cases from a psychological point of view, mainly to make them victims not criminals.
Your analysis would suggest that, perhaps, it was the hard circumstances, the upbringing, ignorance, injustice, and sometimes even boredom, that forced them to follow the devil. Of course, that suggestion doesn’t entirely destroy the goodness inside villians.
And, in conclusion, you would also suggest that villians need a chance, an open door, or a relocation to shed their devilish skin. Then, with a new brand of skin, they would be able to listen to their nagging conscience and pump some light into their dark heart. Things might work this way, but it might not becuase there might be other scenarios.
What if they don’t have a nagging conscience? What if they block the light instead of letting it penetrate their dark hearts? What if repentance wasn’t in their dictionary and power and egotism are their main, sole creed? What if the devil himself was just an apprentense in their handicraft? And finally, what if they want to always play the villian, the highly qualified egonist?
Would you still sympathise with them, and cry at the end of the story because they were hanged, prisoned, and didn’t have a second chance?
Why don’t you, while reading the story, consider that God surely hasn’t assigned villians to rob the rich to feed the poor?
Have you ever thought that, with all excuses, all masks, and all pretences, vilians can’t erase their malicious achievements from their resume without adding a pure, repentent heart to it? Of course that does not mean that a villian would straightaway turn into an angel, but they, probably, would turn straightaway into a human with a living heart.
Would you, as a reader, prefer a story that makes you weep for joy after the lost soul finally starts seeking light? Or would you just enjoy a story for its adventure regardless of the route it takes, just the journey for its own sake?
With all the best wishes,
Nahla
Tag: Fiction
Cinderella’ Dream
Definitely, Cinderella didn’t dream of marrying the king or the prince. Perhaps, it was because she didn’t descend from the royal family. But, maybe, it was also because she wasn’t after money or fame. According to the story, all Cinderella wanted was a decent life full of kindness and love. But then, the package came with a handsome prince. Would any sensible girl refuse it? Of course, not.
On the other side, have you ever wondered that the prince had also his own dreams, his own wishs? He wasn’t after the pretty princess who lost a pair of her sparkly shoes as she ran away when the clock struck midnight. According to the story, he was also seeking kindness and love.
Isn’t this quote so true: “What you need you attract like a lover.” Better still, God knows our hearts, what’s lying and hidden deeply there. He listens and makes plans in His perfect timing. That’s part and parcel of Faith, my faith.
Have you read The Rose Garden Husband by Margaret. I like its simplicity and normality. Good stories do not always have to be complicated and thrilling, do they?
Here’s the link for my book review;
https://nh825.wordpress.com/2025/01/11/the-rose-garden-husband/
With all the best wishes,
Nahla
Fiction or real life?
What would you do if you lost all your possessions?
In fiction, sometimes, the main plot is about making new beginnings. Things like how the change, the end, or the loss of something or all things is nothing but a different route for new beginnings, new journey, or new life. But, isn’t fiction, in most cases, a representation of our lives, a mirror of ourselves?
It’s heartbreaking to read a war story, a report in the news, and, of course, posts on social media about a mother who lost everything; her husband, her children, her house, her land, and all her possessions. Why? Did she do anything to have this punishment? No. Then why? Simply, because of Evil: evil that aims at destroying everything, everyone, and all possessions for its own benefit, its own growth, its own lies. But the story doesn’t end, won’t end, at this stage.
The mother is still alive, have memories, dreams, breath, and faith. She starts again with new people, new children, new life around her. Goodness prevail, always prevail.
Isn’t that we read in fiction? Isn’t that what happens in real life? What’s happening now?
Life goes on. Even if we lose all our possessions, we can have new ones, always find new ones as long as good exists, as long as we are real.
With all the best wishes,
Nahla
Out of two
If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?
I am quite a reader, and it is not that I read everything, but I believe that books find their readers. Perhaps, as a reader, you are in need of something; be it company, a morale, an encouragement, a guidance, an advice, some fun, or anything else. I believe that the title, the front cover, the blurb, and the first page are what attract a reader to a book. And, that’s why I continue reading a book even though I find it boring later on and have to skip some parts and pages. But, I always find something new to learn.
Now, although I’ve come across too many fictional characters, there are mainly two I like and remember the most. Jane Eyre and Judy Abbot. If I have to choose one, it would be Jane Eyre. Why? Because, she learned to live, she was a good student and a good teacher, and she stood by her principles. She had neither bowed to humiliation nor yielded to temptation.
Isn’t it hard to feel like the odd one out, mainly because you care while others surrounding you do not, and they don’t understand why you care, either. But, these unique characters teach the readers that it’s the odd ones who are the most remembered.
With all the best wishes,
Nahla
The Tortoise and the Hare
Yesterday I asked my daughter:
If there is a second part to the tortoise and the hare story in which they will decide to go for another competition, who do you think will win?
While she was thinking, i said in my head the Hare. Surely he would have learned the lesson. He would never think to have a nap under the same tree. No way.
The tortoise, my daughter said and i looked at her surprised.
How? I asked believing the hare would never repeat the same mistake.
The Hare will copy the tortoise and crawl all the way next to her.
Why? I asked still surprised
Because she had won the first race and he thought if he followed her pace, he would too
Any why do you think it did not work with him?
Because his legs hurt. He got different legs to those of the tortoise. So he became very very tired and had some rest under the tree and fell asleep again.
Oh poor hare! Surely he was very disappointed, i said
No, he was not, my daughter said
Why? I asked.
Because he wasn’t himself in the race this time, my daughter said
Don’t understand, i said
He was pretending to be the tortoise but this can’t be. He should be himself, the hare, to win, my daughter said.
Good point! I smiled
Children will always give us wonderful lessons.
Wishing you all the best,
Nahla
An accident
Accidents happen; at home, on the road, in the air, everywhere, and people usually panic, fight, yell, swear (probably), or be friends (sometimes) as a reaction to the unexpected clash and the physical or financial injuries.
In real life, we rarely do feel anything appealing about accidents; it’s something happen without any intention or expectation. We panic and react in different ways, but it’s hard to realise the significance of any disaster even if it was just broken glass, until late.
But, in books, the dramatisation of fictional accidents makes the story more exciting; for example, a car hit a cat on the road, and the driver pushed the accelerator down to the floor and disappeared. Another car stopped, checked the cat, and the story goes on telling the journey of the cat, the hero, and the villain. ‘that was a good story,’ some people will admit at the end of the book, when they realise the significance, the message, the mistakes, and the necessary precautions.
Fiction entertains and also gives a message.
Take care,
Wishing you all the best,
Nahla
Names in fiction
The more I read, the more I realise that the characters’ names play an important role in stories. There is a special moment when characters introduce themselves, and when others respond. When the name has a significance, this moment becomes exceptional and impressive.
In real life, we, sometimes, pause and stare at the person introducing himself or herself, and feel something special, real, or odd about them.
One day, a friend was telling me about her sister’s newborn baby;
‘Shadow was doing so and so,’ she said, and I asked whether her sister is living in the Uk?
‘No,’ she said.
‘What’s the baby’s name again?’ I asked.
‘Shadow,’ she said.
‘Why your sister gave her baby an English name?’ I asked.
‘It’s Shadow, the Arabic name,’ she replied.
I couldn’t help laughing because Shadow in Arabic means the birds’ singing, the pronunciation is different, slightly, but it spells the same as the shadow in English.
It is interesting to play with this similarity of names in Fiction, isn’t it?
Wishing you all the best,
Nahla
Pure and Simple 