The Princess Bride: SparkNotes Literature Guide by SparkNotes

Author:SparkNotes [Sparknotes Editors]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Study Guides
ISBN: 9781411477186
Publisher: Spark
Published: 2014-09-09T00:00:00+00:00

Analysis

This long chapter possesses a more epic nature than any of the others. All the basic elements are here: the princess is saved from a loveless marriage by a band of murderous kidnappers, then saved from the kidnappers by the love of her life. The savior is godlike in his abilities to best the best in each field of heroism: leaned skill, strength, intelligence, and everything seems fine until the loveless husband reappears to claim his wife. This is when the heroine slips, choosing life over love. This chapter contains the bulk of the book's adventure, as well as important notes on the histories of the main male characters.

We learn the full dynamic among Vizzini, Fezzik and Inigo, and the histories of the latter two characters give us insight into the reason beneath this dynamic. Vizzini is calculating and heartless and rather pitiful; Fezzik is laden with self-doubt and a certain awkward fear; Inigo is quiet, pensive, fair. Together they stand as allegories, each the best in the world at his specific skill, posing a daunting obstacle course for Westley, who bests them all, showing himself to be a truly remarkable individual. We now know why Buttercup loves him.

As for Buttercup, we see how she has been shaped by her training and isolation. She is quieter, sadder, more beautiful, and also at times bolder than she has ever had to be before, and when she pushes Westley down to the ravine as a punishment for mocking her heartache, we see also why Westley loves her. But she has hardened, lost much of her faith in love, and she breaks the entire crescendo of the story by returning to Humperdinck. The princess bride has blown her shot at love and happiness.

Many myths are demystified in this chapter as Westley peels away their intimidation tactics and defeats them. The Dread Pirate Roberts, once the terror of the sea, has fallen into Westley's palm once he revealed the extent to which must live. The Fire Swamp, though eerie, is manageable, and inside is ultimately safer than out, where Humperdinck and his men await the lovers. The reversals in this chapter are quite impressive, as nothing is done in its proper order: Inigo rescues the man in black from the cliffs before he attempts to kill him; and Westley abuses Buttercup before he reveals himself as her beloved. Everything is explained, and none of it is conventional.

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