Forget the Fairy Tales

 Relationships are confusing, and this is all because society has made it so people have certain expectations when they are in one. Alice Major’s poem, Puce Fairy Book, examines fairly similar ideas as that of the article, Forget Prince Charming, by June Callwood. Alice Major describes how men expect great things from women but they are not as much as they are made up to be. In June Callwood’s article, she advises her granddaughters “that they cannot expect perfection.” Although they have different opinions, they see relationships and expectations from a similar point of view.

            Young people growing up have an unrealistic view of how relationships should be. Fictional stories and characters have made our generation assume we are supposed to act, look, and feel a certain way. Alice Major explains that men expect women to only ever belong to one man like “stairs that only [he] can climb”. Women are put under great pressure because they are fantasized to be something they’re not. She says that men don’t anticipate that “other princes have made it through [the] forest” of many women. Society has made us think that when “you [are] brought...a crystal slipper”, even if your “foot [is] too big to fit”, they are the “one true prince”. She explains that no matter how much you are sure of someone, a great amount of “mature consideration” should be put into finding the perfect mate. Major’s line, “bruised by that one small nub”, symbolizes the fact that a single mistake or flaw, no matter how small, can break down a relationship causing it to fail. Even if they seem like the “one true prince”, if you can’t measure up to then in reality, it’s okay to turn down the offer. Alice’s believes that someone shouldn’t have to live up to the expectations of others because we should be accepted for who we are and not what we’re made up to be.  

June Callwood believes that no “perfect mate exists” for anyone. Two people cannot go through their life together without disagreement or hardships. She tells her grandchildren that relationships need “passionate physical attraction…and without it relationships are cold gruel.” People have a lot of expectations of what a relationship should be like and are somewhat misled by society. June explains that the biggest problem is the assumption that “partnership will be effortless”, but the only thing that will really keep two people in a steady relationship is if “each person [will] work” on it together. She stresses that when looking for a relationship, don’t search for “Prince Charming”, and pay attention to “integrity…punctuality…compassion” and humor. Anyone with “good parenting” will have “loyalty and kindness”. Don’t settle for the first catch of the eye. Take the time to find someone that makes people happy. Maybe a couple wont always agree on everything, but two people mainly “survive on a mutual ability to compromise.” Callwood believes that without expectations, relationships can be great if both put in effort, love, and a little bit or humor.

            Society has made it so we think that we need to find that perfect someone. Alice Major thinks that there is no such thing as perfect, as does June Callwood. I believe that Alice would completely agree with the advice June is giving to her granddaughters about not expecting relationships to be simple and faultless. They would both agree that love is not made by the opinions of others or by receiving expensive objects; but by making memories and sharing laughs.