Sinta MK

The damsel in distress doesn’t really need to be saved after all; she ends up saving others. And the most controversial thing? She saves her abuser from darkness. Maybe, if Erik had already lost his whole humanity, she ought to prepare for the worst. Christine’s heroism isn’t idealistic; it has never been her responsibility to heal the wounds of her men. A blind self-sacrifice in the name of love isn’t proof of a woman’s worth. And, even though Christine never begged for Erik’s validation, her kindness, which is supposed to be her strength, becomes a double-edged sword. Even so, Christine continues to present her warmth amidst despair. Not because Erik demands it; she does it willingly. She chooses love, unaware that it will shatter Erik's defense.

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will,” symbolizes resistance against anyone who tries to snatch her autonomy away. She doesn’t let someone hold her soul captive. Her refusal to live inside a birdcage still echoes today, reaching a dreamer like me.

Like Jane Eyre, Rebecca alludes to the derogatory term about mad women. The label "crazy" is often attached to women due to a misconception that they are more spontaneous. This stereotype also exposes a hypocrisy where women are liable to more scrutiny than their male peers. Rebecca’s adultery and manipulation are enough to deem her a mad villain, yet Maxim’s crime goes unpunished, even protected. He manipulates the tragedy to justify his killing, believing himself to be the true victim.