The Robber Bridegroom and Feather Crowns: feminine representations of history

Feminine History In Welty and Mason

Eudora Welty and Bobbie Ann Mason write American history from a feminist perspective in their works of historical fiction. In the novella the Robber Bridegroom, Welty subverts the anti-feminist fairy tale genre in a story set in the Natchez Trace during early nineteenth century. Mason, in Feather Crowns, relates everyday life in the rural Kentucky during the late nineteenth century and the early- to mid-twentieth century when modernity is beginning to overtake traditional life ways in rural America.

Researcher Akram Habeeb quotes Eudora Welty stating "I feel no strain with legends and fairy tales and I've always loved them" (46). The Robber Bridegroom relies heavily on the conventions of the fairy tale, folklore, mythology, and epic legend genres, but Welty's main female characters, Rosamond and Salome, are not the typical fairy tale princess and evil stepmother.

The beautiful young women of fairy tales are usually virtuous, passive, and helplessly imprisoned, longing to be rescued by their dreamy heroic princes; Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel are strong examples of this type of character. Rosamond, however, is the opposite of this stereotype in several ways. Being a virgin, one can view her as virtuous, innocent, and pure, but she is also a liar, and dishonesty is not a virtue. Contrary to the typical fairy tale maiden, Rosamond is also lusty and sexually expressive, as when she reflects on her first encounter with Jamie Lockhart in the woods. She doesn't have only a passive interest in being swept away in romantic love but also an active interest in sex (Habeeb 50).

Moreover, Rosamond exhibits active self-interest when she tries to learn Jamie's true identity. She wants that knowledge and needs the mystery to be solved so she can be truly happy, and Rosamond won't accept anything less than true happiness. With the help of Salome, she discovers Jamie's dual nature, and when he, offended by her lack of trust, leaves her, Rosamond goes after him. Her journey is the hero's quest, usually a male activity in myths and legends. It takes her through the wilderness where she suffers hardship and trials but emerges transformed, reconciled with Jamie's duality and enlightened (Carson). Rosamond's heroic journey also results not only with her achievement of knowledge, love, and happiness, but in the end she rescues the man Lockhart from his divided self and double life.

Welty's portrayal of the relationship between Salome and Rosamond reverses the typical stepmother-daughter antagonism found in fairy tales. Although Salome is hateful toward Rosamond early on in the story, she changes and becomes the girl's ally in her heroic quest. Salome gives Rosamond a recipe to remove the stain on Jamie's face so she can learn who he really is. Both the stepmother's change of heart and her intervention on behalf of her daughter's interest are atypical of that role in fairy tales (Habeeb 47).