Stede and Bouncebackability
Bouncebackability (noun. inf.) - the capacity to recover quickly from a setback
Stede has bouncebackability. He’s very much someone who can roll with the punches. We see it over and over. Crew want to kill me? I’ll change tack. Gut-stabbed, half-hanged and awoken to a stranger in my room? Show him my frilly clothes. Best friend might be leaving? Treasure hunt! No money? We’ll just work at Spanish Jackie’z. Kidnapped by a Pirate Queen? I’ll draw a map to help me navigate. Lover’s dead? Rescue crew, then lend lover uber-bouncebackability. Rhys has said Stede doesn’t ‘overthink’ and there’s certainly a truth to that. If the way is barred, Stede’ll go up, over or around, and often enjoy the adventure. Yes, and, maybe, also…
The key to Stede’s resilience is his possession of an internal locus of control. Much of this is due to material and sociological advantages, but it is also due to an innate mindset. Stede didn’t have it easy; he is a traumatised individual from repeat childhood bullying, and suffered greatly by having to repress his sexuality in the name of heteronormativity. But Stede has enough inner resolve to take control of the direction of his life, and use his advantages and goodness not only for himself, but for others.
Some think Stede shows a tendency towards selfishness. I don’t think he does. Stede is proactive. One of his main flaws is not sometimes using his gifts, but doubting them. I think we are so used to seeing passivity as a virtue, we forget that saying ‘This is what I want and I’m going for it’ can be a healthy approach if it’s done for good reasons. It’s self-full.
And often what Stede strives for benefits others also. The world needs leaders like Stede.
Stede takes his array of soft skills, emotional intelligence and tenacity, and uses it to better the lives of himself and those around him. There’s no keeping him down.
