So, rereading it again for the... ??? times. Before getting to the novel once more, of course.
I find the portrayal of her trauma rather realistic, and it’s refreshing compared to the wave of “strong independent women” we’ve been seeing these past few years. She is strong too, but in a quieter, more inherent way. The kind of strength that actually fits the era and setting of Under the Oak Tree, where women weren’t allowed to be loud, assertive, or openly defiant. Of course, some women in that kind of world would still have bolder, more rebellious personalities, but Maxi’s strength grows differently, from a place shaped by fear, silence, and survival. Her resilience has to exist within the limits of her world, and that’s exactly what makes it feel so real. She doesn’t shout it, she doesn’t perform it; she simply keeps trying to become someone who can stand on her own feet. And even if it doesn’t match the modern idea of what a “strong woman” should look like, it’s still a valid, powerful form of strength.
She may look and act like a “weak woman,” but in reality she’s resilient, stubborn, and someone who never stopped trying, even after being thrown to rock bottom again and again, without even getting to step "outside" of her cage. Her cage is her own mind. It takes real strength and courage to walk the path Maxi walks in the story, especially while being so starved for love and terrified of losing the only person she’s ever had. I could never.
And Riftan, of course, has his flaws and misconceptions too. He can be rude, and he’s portrayed in a similar way to Maxi : a blend of modern views on gender and equity (he could treat Maxi in a even more sheltered and limited way) and the older rules of their world. It’s interesting, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding. Their story is about two fawns learning to navigate the domain of communication, for very different reasons. And that’s what makes it so compelling.
So, rereading it again for the... ??? times. Before getting to the novel once more, of course.
I find the portrayal of her trauma rather realistic, and it’s refreshing compared to the wave of “strong independent women” we’ve been seeing these past few years. She is strong too, but in a quieter, more inherent way. The kind of strength that actually fits the era and setting of Under the Oak Tree, where women weren’t allowed to be loud, assertive, or openly defiant. Of course, some women in that kind of world would still have bolder, more rebellious personalities, but Maxi’s strength grows differently, from a place shaped by fear, silence, and survival. Her resilience has to exist within the limits of her world, and that’s exactly what makes it feel so real. She doesn’t shout it, she doesn’t perform it; she simply keeps trying to become someone who can stand on her own feet. And even if it doesn’t match the modern idea of what a “strong woman” should look like, it’s still a valid, powerful form of strength.
She may look and act like a “weak woman,” but in reality she’s resilient, stubborn, and someone who never stopped trying, even after being thrown to rock bottom again and again, without even getting to step "outside" of her cage. Her cage is her own mind. It takes real strength and courage to walk the path Maxi walks in the story, especially while being so starved for love and terrified of losing the only person she’s ever had. I could never.
And Riftan, of course, has his flaws and misconceptions too. He can be rude, and he’s portrayed in a similar way to Maxi : a blend of modern views on gender and equity (he could treat Maxi in a even more sheltered and limited way) and the older rules of their world. It’s interesting, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding. Their story is about two fawns learning to navigate the domain of communication, for very different reasons. And that’s what makes it so compelling.