Caiette’s Swynwrimo 2024: Task #26 — Character #Inspo (Part 1)
Find five existing fictional characters who remind you of your characters (or who inspired your characters) ... Post one piece of inspiration from each character (A gif, a quote, a video clip, a screenshot) and write a little bit about how that character relates to your own.
Inspirations for Menodora "Moon" Perhonen
Spoilers for Fate: The Winx Saga, Ghost Quartet/Fall of the House of Usher, Ni No Kuni, The Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Characters Listed:
Inspirations Farah Dowling (Fate: The Winx Saga) Gertrude (Hamlet) Lady Usher (Ghost Quartet) Allie (Ni No Kuni) Virginia Doyle (A Gemme Doyle Trilogy) Honorable Mentions Catelyn Stark (Game of Thrones, because I didn't read ASOIAF) Elinor (Brave) [Yes, I'm aware of the Irony]
Farah Dowling (Fate: The Winx Saga)
Farah Dowling is 80% why I picked Eve Best for Menodora's Face Claim. The other 20% was probably Eve Best as Anna Clayton making this expression:
Anyhow.
I just think Farah mirrors some of Menodora's struggles -- hidden past, keeping a facade of propriety that buries her inclination to get close to people.
Farah holds a great deal of guilt for her past actions (re: The destruction of Aster Dell), where Menodora feels a deep regret for her perceived brashness when it comes to vanquishing TĂłfi. Similarly, both of these actions had an element of either manipulation or at least poor advisement, with actions being driven by Rosalind and The Commission for Farah and Menodora, respectively.
Additionally, Farah confides in Saul Silva, someone who had been with her in their past training with The Light Batallion. Meanwhile, it's explained in the tie-in books for Star Vs. The Forces of Evil that River and Moon met on the battlefield against monsters. Saul grounds Farah in a similar way that River does to Moon.
Farah also has a scene where she acts as an authority figure, admonishing the Winx girls for their recklessness, though is perceived to also be proud of them for their initiative.
I believe this captures Menodora's feelings and appearance very well. The most visible part of her is the Authority Figure, which sometimes clashes with the part of her that can say that she is proud of Stella.
To me, there are just these little threads that may not match but do somewhat rhyme.
Gertrude (Hamlet)
Now you may go, but Caiette, Gertrude from Hamlet!? Yes! Gertrude from Hamlet!
Bound by duty? A complicated relationship with her child? In a state of avoiding her own understanding of herself and going through the motions? Feels trapped by the public's perception of her? Is treated with worst intentions by her own child? Her son's least favorite parent -- I suppose excluding Claudius, whom he doesn't claim.
Acts as if she's in control of her life when really she is somewhat spiraling, especially when confronted by her child in his own spiral?
And let's not forget that she is depressed! I shouldn't psychoanalyze Gertrude, but it somewhat fits.
I just think she's a neat Shakespeare girly who hits a lot of the same boxes even if they're not the same.
Lady Usher (Ghost Quartet)
This one is interesting for me, as I adore Ghost Quartet. Gelsey Bell plays Lady Usher, inspired/drawn from Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher.
In this timeline/thread of Ghost Quartet, the cycles of Mothers and Daughters is explored, as well as Fathers and Sons. Ultimately, Lady Usher is well-meaning towards Roxie, and indulges fantastical elements of Roxie's life, but also strong arms her worries about Roxie's imaginary friend who has turned Roxie cynical and possibly obssessive.
Overall, there is something in the complex cycle between mothers and daughters that use to inform Menodora's portrayal.
Also, the idea of Menodora being a softer mother in private than in public. Very appealing.
Allie (Ni No Kuni)
Okay, Caution Here. Major Spoilers for the Video Game Ni No Kuni.
[tw death, mention of almost drowning, maybe fantasy genocide???]
There are levels to this. It contains ✨ multitudes ✨
On the simplest level, we have a very British-sounding mother of the chosen one.
Shout out to Jo Wyatt, also the voice of female Hawke in Dragon Age II @ A.
On a deeper level, we have a woman who is secretly magical and from another world and time who transported herself to a small town and essentially lives a 'normal' life.
Obviously, the differences are that Oliver loves his mother (@ Stella), and that she's open and loving to her son even with her secrets (@ Menodora.)
So if you don't know the story of Allie in Ni No Kuni, basically, you're introduced to her as Oliver's (main protagonist) very normal, if a bit anglophilic, mother who dies saving him from drowning. You are soon told that there might be a way to save her by freeing her 'soulmate' (other-world counterpart), the Great Sage Alicia, who's connection to her was severed by a dark djinn named Shadar. (Yes, that's his name.) A whole Ghibli Quest Ensues and at the end, when you think you're about to save her -- BAM. The worst twist! It was 🎶 Alicia All Along 🎶! Your mother was The Great Sage Alicia, YOU (Oliver) are the soulmate of Shadar and will kill yourself if you kill him(!!!), and your mom is perma-dead! TRAGIC!!!! So you get through the last cour (you think) with the acceptance that you're going to have to die in order to save this other world, and it's revealed in the end that the reason that you're Shadar's Soulmate is because Alicia was trying to save Shadar!!! (I don't understand this logic. I didn't at ten years old, I don't at twenty-five.) ANYWAYS. It's more about the reasoning.
Shadar had once gone by Lucien and wanted to be a noble soldier to his home kingdom. Unfortunately, he hadn't realized that his home kingdom was a tyrannical nation that used its army to hurt and killed villages of people who might harbor oppressors. Alicia was the child of a Great Sage and was saved by Shadar back when he was human and went by Lucien. He was punished for this act and his own home village was raided. Alicia never forgot his act of sacrifice and kindness and has spent her life learning how to be a good magician and save him from himself! Essentially, by the end, Oliver is able to have some closure with her... spirit????? And she and Lucien are able to... reunite in the afterlife???? This might have made more sense in Japanese.
ALL THAT TO SAY.
Magic lady from a fantasy, story-land who tries to be normal for the sake of.... being good. Has a deep-rooted relationship with an adult figure from her childhood.
The vibes arent' even terribly similar but there's symbolism in this story about hope -- and also lost causes??? -- that I just love and draw on.
Ni No Kuni has a lot of messages about hope and light and I think that that, plus the use of fun mythos, really inspired some of Menodora's character and the way she interacts with the world.
Virginia Doyle (A Gemme Doyle Trilogy)
Spoilers for The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray, specifically A Great and Terrible Beauty!!
** Art by Nicole Chartrand. This art is not official of Virginia Doyle, but it invokes a feeling. And for that, I accept it.
[TW Suicide, Stabbing]
Virginia Doyle, a mother with a dark past who keeps it from her daughter and creates some strife that way? Yes, please. Virginia Doyle, a tragic mom character who unintentionally besets her sins and secrets on her daughter? Also, yes.
She means well, but her secrecy and shady past do get her in trouble. As well as the pressure she puts on her daughter, Gemma, to be a lady. Her relationship with her daughter -- what you see of it in the books -- is so brief, but it is telling.
Virginia wants to protect her daughter, and in doing so, alienates her.
I don't mean to keep picking up mom characters who die, but.... I mean. She's gone within the first two chapters, killing herself to keep herself from being corrupted by a dark creature and protecting her daughter from having to harm her in that state.
She also has a deep tragic past with one of the not-quite big bads -- main antagonist of the first two books -- and it shows through backstory.
Closing Thoughts
I don't know, I'm realizing through this that... maybe 'friends who went wrong' and 'secretly magical mum' are my types. Also, maybe 'friend who went wrong' became 'a secret backstory with the villain,' is evidenced by Farah, Allie, and Virginia. They certainly seem to be Menodora's types.
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Caiette's Swynwrimo 2024 Tracklist.
