Only in a Fairytale

Brayden Hearne

Only in a Fairytale

“I don’t believe for a moment that a perfect mate exists,” advises a grandmother to her granddaughters who are in search of a relationship. In the passages “Puce Fairy Book” by Alice Major, and “Forget Prince Charming” by June Callwood, two women express their opinionative views on relationships and how “[one] cannot expect perfection.” Both women distinctively underline the concept that a person should not expect flawlessness in a mate’s ways, but rather find positives about them and love them for who they are. Alice Major, the author of “Puce Fairy Book”, would reassure the advice June Callwood gives to her granddaughters in the article “Forget Prince Charming”.

                In the poem “Puce Fairy Book”, by Alice Major, the concept of unrealistic, fairytale expectations of ones companion is discussed. The speaker is put under pressure to live up to what her lovers’ hopes for from her, which is compared to fairytales. Her lover wants “braids of hair like ropes, stairs that only [he] could climb,” yet she responds her hair would never grow long enough. He also states how he wants a woman who has never been kissed, however “other princes had made it through [her] forest.” After multiple gestures are made to convince the speaker to adjust herself to perfection, she “declined, with thanks, [and] honor.” By performing the act of declining her love, she can endeavor to live for what she wants to, and is not pressured to conform to anothers infinite expectations.

           

            In the passage “Forget Prince Charming”, by June Callwood, the theory “that a perfect mate exists” is not very likely, and that perfection is not necessary for happiness.

The speaker is a grandmother, who gives influential advice on finding a significant other to her granddaughters. She expresses that “no human relationship is friction-free”, proposing that nobody is perfect, and we should love people for the positive aspects of them rather then what they don’t have. She even goes as far as saying that “a perfect mate…would not be a heavenly match for [her] because [she] is imperfect and [they] would clash.” The grandmother also enthuses how successful mating is not all about finding the perfect person, but finding someone that you can compromise, love and be happy with. Overall the grandmother has developed appreciation for non perfection, as provides her granddaughters on information to not have unrealistic expectations when finding a relationship.

             Alice Major, the author of "Puce Fairy Book", would justify the advice that June Callwood gives to her granddaughters in the article "Forget Prince Charming". Both Alice Major, and June Callwood, expressed that “[nobody can] expect perfection,” and that people should live for themselves. Alice Major would concur on the idea that June Callwood expresses, that in relationships imperfections are not a burden, but rather something both companions usually share. Alice would also agree the concept that “all long term couplings survive on the mutual ability to compromise,” so rather then have unattainable expectations of a significant other, the two should compromise on their expectations, and love their companion for however they decide to live their lives. Overall, Alice Major, concurs on June Callwood’s idea that people should live for themselves, and not try to live up to unrealistic expectations of others.