Spreading Myths about Fairy Tales: A Critical Commentary on Robert Bly's Iron John
1992; Duke University Press; Issue: 55 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/488286
ISSN1558-1462
Autores Tópico(s)Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies
ResumoWhen I first heard the title of Robert Bly's book about men, Iron John, I made several quick associations': man of steel, Superman, invincible force, solid, but flying through the air faster than a speeding bullet. Explosive. The savior. Reliable. Law and order. John notJack. Formality. The Christian John. Stiff. Cold. Inhibited. Not Johnnie. Not Jock. John the Baptist. John the Apostle. Onward Christian soldiers. Blood and iron. Bismarck. Germany. War. Never could John be wild. Perhaps Johnny. Perhaps Jack. There was definitely something noble and heroic about the name Iron John like the kings, dubbed with names signifying their outstanding traits: Richard the Lion-Heart, Louis the Sun King, Frederick the Great. Iron John was clearly a book about proud strong men, about great men, sovereign stoic studs. On the contrary. My associations were wrong. Iron John, I discovered, was not about legendary heroes, but about the new meek men of
Referência(s)