According to Flavorwire's list "10 of the Most Powerful Female Characters in Literature" we've got Katniss in fourth, The Wife of Bath (from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales) in third, Hermione in second, and Jane Eyre as our lovely winner. Not bad. But come on, there has to be more than 2 exceptional females created in all that was written since Chaucer. What about Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz? On that note, what about Elphaba from Wicked?
Here are some often overlooked heroines I think deserve to be included:
Addie from The Two Princesses of Bamarre. I hardly remember this book: I read it once when I was twelve. But I remember loving it (and there are several scenes I remember clearly, which I won't say specifically to avoid spoiling it for anyone who might want to read it). In a fantastical world of faeries and monsters, Addie takes it upon herself to set off on a perilous quest to find a cure for her dying sister.
Heidi from Johanna Spyri's Heidi. Part of a literary classic, this girl was the first female character I remember relating to and wishing I could be like. She might not have saved the world, but she had her own adventures and made the best of them.
Kitty Pryde from X-men. Ok, so maybe this isn't literary per say, but she deserves mentioning. She's feminine, witty, compassionate, clever, yet holds her ground in any fight: be it battle of strength, will, or mind. I read once that she was the inspiration for Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Morgaine from The Mists of Avalon. Marion Zimmer Bradley's version of the iconic Morgan le Fay is tough, cunning, and compassionate, refusing to be a pawn in anyone's game. She is flawed, yet heroic.
Pippi Longstocking. Adventurous, daring, spunky. What six year old didn't want to be best friends with this rambunctious girl who pushed the limits of society and always found a way to have fun. She's like the female equivalent of Peter Pan, only less menacing.
Who do you think deserves to make the list and why?
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