Guest piece: Enchanted by Ella Enchanted by Laura Hilton

Once a week, my mom would load me, my older sister, and a number of foster siblings into her white mini van for a trip to one of my favorite places in the world: the library. Being homeschooled, there were only so many times I was able to have so much freedom.

One particular day when I was visiting, I happened to read the "Children's Book Club Reading List." The book of the month was Ella  Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I never actually attended the meetings, but upon reading the description on the flier for Ella Enchanted, I was enticed to check it out for myself. There was one lone copy in the small county library, and lucky for me, there were no holds. Score!

As soon as I got home, I began reading. And I never wanted to stop. I’m pretty sure I finished the  book that day, staying up past my bedtime under the covers with a flashlight to devour the final chapters. The story is a rather simple one, but it was love at first read. Ella Enchanted is a twist on the classic Cinderella story, but instead of the traditional “Woe is me,” oppressed female tale, it follows the story of an independent and feisty young lady (both qualities which I could easily relate to).

In the novel, Ella is “gifted” a curse upon being born. This curse makes her do whatever she is told, literally.

If someone told me to hop on one foot for a day and a half, I’d have to do it. And hopping on one foot wasn't the worst order I could be given. If you commanded me to cut off my own head, I’d have to do it. I was in danger at every moment.

Though she is cursed, Ella finds ways to rebel against those who want nothing to do but torture her and in the end, she is the hero. Of course, there is an evil stepmother, fairy godmother, extravagant balls, and a handsome prince, but the cliches of the story didn't stop me from hanging onto every last word.

After two weeks with the book passed, it was time to return it to the library. I insisted upon checking it out again and again. I did eventually return it, but the next year, when I was enrolled in public school, I ordered my very own paperback copy. I carried it with me everywhere. I read and re-read the book every few weeks. Anytime someone asked me if I recommended any books, I would enthusiastically suggest Ella Enchanted.

As I grew older, my fondness of the novel only grew. I finally handed over my copy to my little sister, who also seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. In fact, she hasn't been able to let go it of since. So if you have the time (and if you don’t, you should make some), pick up a copy of Ella Enchanted from your local used bookstore or library and get lost in Ella’s world of elves, ogres, fairies, and curses. You won’t regret it one bit.

Guest Piece - Masks of Watchmen by Jon Bryant

Here is the first guest piece! Jumping off from the discussion of masks earlier, Jon Bryant takes a closer look at three masks in Watchmen.

Warning! Contains content intended for mature audiences and spoilers!

Hello all! Welcome to the very first guest post here on No Wasted Words. I’m here to talk about an interesting subject regarding the literary world. Symbolism. Yes, I know, English classes throughout the world have crushed the desire to analyze symbolism in pretty much everybody. But today I’m talking about comics!

That’s right. Comics. Or for those of you that prefer this small dignity, Graphic Novels. My favorite graphic novel is Watchmen. Yes, I am aware of the atrocious movie but Marygail will be talking about that one later. Probably the most important symbol in the serial is the mask. I know it seems obvious that a comic book about superheroes would have masks be an important symbol, but trust me. It goes deeper than you think.

Hooded Justice

What basic purpose of a mask it to hide one’s true identity. That is where our first mask comes to play, with Hooded Justice, the first costumed hero in the Watchmen universe. All the basic rules of superheroing apply to good ol’ HJ. But did you know that the mask serves as a barrier between him and his sexuality? That’s right, HJ is not only the first superhero, he’s the first gay superhero as well. The mask is his method of staying within the metaphorical closet. He, along with Silhouette and Captain Metropolis, were homosexual and sought to keep this information secret due to the inevitable backlash that would arise if they were found out. In the sad case of Silhouette, her orientation was exposed and she was murdered because of it. Interestingly enough, Silhouette never wore a mask. Perhaps this is because she felt she shouldn't have to hide who she was, unlike her masculine compatriots.

The Comedian

Our second mask belongs to The Comedian. He has three masks throughout the course of the serial: his domino mask, his full face mask, and the mask of human society. The first two are basic superhero necessity, his domino mask concealed his identity and his full face mask offered more protection during his more violent escapades later in life. His third mask is purely metaphorical. His is a reflection of the society in which he lives- a society obsessed with violence and sex, that seeks to claw its way to the top, no matter who it has to crush underfoot to do so. Some would say he is a sociopath that simply enjoys inflicting pain on others and has the good sense to inflict it on people that the law says deserves it. Others would say that he is a cosmic joke. I tend to agree with the latter. He is a parody of the American way, pulling himself up by his bootstraps and trampling any and all that get in the way of his manifest destiny. Underneath it all, he is a broken human being that needs intensive psychiatric help. Though his name is The Comedian there is no one laughing, and that is the joke.

Rorschach

Our third and final mask belongs to Rorschach. His mask is not the swirling motes of black contained within that white cloth, it is what lies beneath that. Rorschach’s flesh and blood face is, in fact, his mask. It is what keeps his identity secret. You see, Rorschach lost all touch with his previous identity when he found the absolute lowest nature of humanity, a woman being raped and murdered while people watched and did nothing. He made the mask as a replacement for his face, in order to have something he could stand looking at in the mirror. He outright tells the police to give him back his face at one point while being arrested when the police remove it. Clearly he suffers from several mental disorders, but that is not what forms his new face. His new face is formed by his absolute disgust with humanity and the various lows to which they sink. His belief as a boy was that the ends justified the means. This is shown by his former admiration for president Truman dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Later when Veigt’s plan is uncovered and put into action, he cannot abide by this mindset. He knows that the needs of the many do not, in fact, outweigh the needs of the few. Despite his various psychoses and disdain for the majority of human life, he ends up being the best human being in the serial.

There you have it: a mask that hides homosexuality from a homophobic world, a mask of cosmic parody, and a mask that serves as a true face. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Watchmen. We also have symbolism with clock faces, smiley faces, and pirate ships. What do you think of these masks? Was I off the mark? Are there more important masks? Answers to these questions and more can be found in the comments.

Note on images: Please follow the links in the captions for more information.