Talk About Blyton!

Unlisted - Enid Blyton in general – Female Villains

March 2, 2017 – Paul says: Aside from non-humans like Dame Slap and schoolgirls like Gwen Lacy and Angela Favorleigh, were there many female villains in Enid's stories? In real life, many female villains have been able to strike because most people won't think a woman will attack them and so their guard is lowered.
Fatty says... Fatty says: There were plenty. An interesting topic to see what people come up with! Incidentally, you have enough non de plumes online, Paul, so I have reverted your name to your real one.
March 3, 2017 – Paul says: Sorry, sometimes it's easier to ask questions under a different name. Less preconceptions and stereotypes and less pre-judging.
Fatty says... Fatty says: Our actions of the past and present build the foundations of people's perceptions of us now and in the future. We are what and who we are.
March 10, 2017 – PadrĂ© says: In the Five Find-Outer books, I can only think of two female villains. In Spiteful Letters, there was Mrs Moon. In Tally-Ho cottage, the villains were Mr And Mrs Lorenzo, who later disguised themselves as Mr and Mrs Larkin. Am I missing any others?
April 23, 2017 – Michael says: Definitely a few female villains in the Famous Five series. Maggie ("Horrid common voice and hard face!!! ") was half of a nasty duo in Five On A Hike Together and there was also a witchy type in Five On A Secret Trail who disguised herself as a peasant woman. Anne saw through it though.
April 24, 2017 – Paul says: I believe "common voice" has been edited in the reprints as apparently we cannot insult the working class these days. And "you talk like the daughter of the dustman" has far more impact than whatever replaced it in modern Enid.
Fatty says... Fatty says: I bet you wouldn't like it if you were the daughter of a dustman! In fact, if a dustman (refuse operator) heard you refer to his daughter like that, you might be in need of a plaster!
April 25, 2017 – Avan N. Cooverji says: Why should anyone degrade the job of a dustman? Is he not doing honest hard work to earn a livelihood? Some circumstances may have led him to have little education but that does not take away anything from him or his daughter for that matter if they are sincere hardworking people. A truly well bred person is one who will make another feel comfortable and put him at ease instead of riding a high horse and looking down at him. That will not say much for his education!
Fatty says... Fatty says: Spot on, Avan. Thankfully, we are a much more enlightened and generous nation today.
April 25, 2017 – Paul says: Avan, Enid seems to have had a prejudice against people that encountered sudden good fortune that caused them to rise above their "proper" station in life without "earning" it as she saw it. Hence, Janet's mocking of Sheila Naylor in SC and what happens to Jo Jones in MT.
Fatty says... Fatty says: It's not just about money, breeding and class were important back then. A win on the pools didn't make you a Lady!
May 9, 2017 – Avan N. Cooverji says: When Paul says that Enid Blyton had a prejudice against people who suddenly became rich , it is true to a point. She lays a lot of importance on old wealth and breeding, but that is not entirely correct on her part because there are many instances of very poor people who are far more noble in thought and feelings than those who have inherited great wealth but have a poverty of goodness in them. An example of that could be the Right Honourable Angela Favourleigh of St. Clares who though blessed with face and fortune has no kindness in her heart (and may be even less intelligence ) for those who are less favoured than her and so to my mind she is far more below those who are not so well placed in life but have more sense than wealth.
November 12, 2018 – joanna says: The name Prudence is always given to nasty girls. Prudence Arnold in SC, Prudence Williams in Red roofs, there was even a Prue in a short story Santa Clause is Surprising. It was in EB's Sunshine Book. She got exactly what she deserved (the little madam) as did all those other selfish brats. Does any one else remember this story?

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