Have you ever felt judged?
I have. At work. Occasionally with a neighbor. It has even happened with those I love. Judgments are usually made when expectations do not match reality. The experience of being judged can leave a person feeling hurt, alone, confused about what happened, and lost on how to deal with it.
One of the versions of Beauty and the Beast is the story of a prince who is unkind to a witch (whom he judges as evil), who then curses him (probably because she judges him as unworthy of being loved) to appear like a beast until the day a maiden truly loves him, despite his hideous appearance (which suggests to me that only love has the power to overcome this impasse of judging, and being judged).
In this tale, the beast forgives Beauty for being frightened of him and hopes that, in time, she can see past his frightening appearance to the man beneath. As for Beauty, she overcomes her belief that something that looks fearsome must be evil in order to recognize the generous heart of the beast. Only by taking this leap of faith, do they overcome the witch’s spell and find true happiness.
At one time or another we’ve all probably judged another person or been judged ourselves. So when we read a Beauty and the Beast tale, most of us can easily nod our head and say, Yup, been there, done that, or had it done to me.
This is why when someone asks me, do you believe in fairytales? I always say, Yes! Because I know that all it takes is a special tilt of my head to see a fairytale come alive, like magic, in the people and events of my everyday life. Because, in essence, fairytales act as mirrors of our lives.
I’d love to hear some of your interpretation of the theme behind this popular fairy tale.
Shereen Vedam was born on a tiny paradise island called Ceylon, later renamed Sri Lanka. Since then she arrived in Canada and moved across the provinces until she landed in British Columbia where she found a new paradise all her own, filled with people and pets and plants (including an awesome giant Weeping Sequoia) that nurture her love of reading, writing and dreaming.
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Her Upcoming fairytale-inspired Regency romances (from ImaJinn Books):
A Devilish Slumber – (a sleeping beauty inspired tale)
A Scorching Dilemma – (a Cinder “fella” inspired tale)
A Perfect Curse – (a Snow White inspired tale)Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/TzFVC4czHOw
Lord Terrance may have forbid her from coming to his manor house, but she was determined to clear his country home of its resident ghost.
“That is a desolate looking house, is it not?” Winfield said. “I would have it torn down and rebuilt in a more flattering style, but Terrance seems fond of this monstrosity. So what brings you so far north, my lady?”
She faced the gentleman. “I have come for a visit with Lady Terrance. She is my grandfather’s friend.”
“I had heard the countess still wore dark colors.”
Before she could respond, a loud crack sounded. She sensed danger stab from above. With a shouted warning, she pulled Mr. Winfield out of harm’s way just as an icicle crashed and shattered where they had stood. She protected her face as splinters flew in all directions.
Mendal screamed. The owl fluttered its one good wing and screeched. The dog barked ferociously.
Mr. MacBride spoke first, his voice quivering and eyes wide with terror. “It is an omen, ah tell ye.”
“He is right,” Mendal said, sounding unusually timorous as she crossed herself. “We should leave. Bad luck comes from going where we are not wanted.”
The front doors opened then, and a footman descended. Immediately, the dog raced up the stairs and inside.
“Dog!” Belle called out in alarm. The animal might wreck the place. This was not how she had hoped to introduce herself to the countess.
An older woman, dressed in black, moved to the open doorway.
Belle recognized her from a drawing her grandfather had shown her. This was Lady Terrance. She gave off waves of fear as she looked toward the roofline.
Belle’s worries drowned beneath the lady’s emotional assault, leaving her head pounding with a headache. Through that onslaught, Belle’s purpose became crystal clear. This is why she had come here.
Lady Terrance needed her.
***
A Beastly Scandal
by Shereen Vedam
Inspired by Beauty and the Beast
A BELLE OF THE BALL…
Lady Annabelle Marchant was a belle of the ball in London until she used her psychical senses to save a man’s life. She failed miserably, leaving him dead and her disgraced. All she wants now is a chance to comfort his widow by cleansing the woman’s home of her husband’s restless spirit. But the widow’s son, the beastly Lord of the Manor, accuses her of coming to the wilds of Cheshire to snag him as a husband. Thoroughly disgusted, she is bent on proving him wrong.
…BECOMES PERSONA NON-GRATA…
Lord Rufus Marlesbury, the Earl of Terrance, is suspected of murdering his father. He has come home to clear his name by finding the real killer before the new year or the king has promised that Rufus will be called in front of the House of Lords to answer for the crime. He does not have time to waste fending off a marriage-minded miss who has inveigled an invitation to his home by playing on his grief-stricken mother’s worst fears.
…WHEN A MURDERER IS ON THE RAMPAGE
With an unruly manor ghost terrorizing the occupants and corpses piling up in the village, Belle must find a way to see the man beneath the beast and Rufus must learn to believe in the love of a woman who has no reason to trust him. Only by working together can they stop a vengeful ghost before it torments the guests or before the killer strikes again.
Shereen is giving away one free pdf copy of A Beastly Scandal to one commenter from anywhere in the world! Leave a comment to enter! Ends April 30th.
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