"Ideal Relationship"
"I don't believe for a moment that a perfect mate exists-"
This line is an excerpt from the story "Forget Prince Charming" written by June Callwood. The author describes how there is no such thing as a perfect relationship because there is always conflicting personality characteristics and insolence. The poet Alice Major from the poem "puce fairy book" promotes the idea that fairy tales and the clichés involved is ludicrous and ridiculous. Alice Major focus's more on the fact that women cannot live up to these "ideal looks" of beauty. June Callwood focuses on the idea that couples need certain qualities to have a successful relationship.
Major is brilliant when she compares real life women to the old, traditional values of fairy tales that "[are] pretty, but slightly passé." Finding true love is supposed to be one of life's greatest gifts. One is expected to look past the other's flaws and "the parts of [them] that [are] no fairy tale." Major indefinitely states in her poem that she "[may] have [found her] one true prince but on mature consideration [she] declined, with thanks, the honor of cutting off [her] toe." The underlying meaning(s) of the last stanza is that although she may have found her soul mate, she was mature by knowing that no one is fairy tale perfect. She also recognizes she is not the perfect fairy tale princess, and that her foot is much too large to fit in the dainty glass slipper.
June Callwood stresses to her readers and grandchildren that "they cannot expect perfection". If you do, you will only be disappointed by a "narcissistic dope." Callwood, who was been "married almost fifty-seven years and so far it is working out", forms the idea that "Prince Charming" mates and the "temporary insanity that accompanies courtship" are not the ingredients for a successful relationship. Callwood states that many young lovers in "the first fiery intensity of romantic attachment" are given a brutal wake up call once the "sweetness they [bring out] in one another" fades. She also criticizes lovers who believe that "the partnership will be effortless" because "two adults from different backgrounds will not agree on everything" and there will have to be huge efforts, compromises, and sacrifices to make the relationship work.
One would imagine that although the two stories have different meanings, Major would applaud the grandmother's advice in the story "Forget Prince Charming" because she shares a similar idea with Callwood that fairy tale relationships and characteristics are highly unrealistic and impossible to live up to. They also share the idea that just because one meet someone who may seem like a ‘Prince Charming’, doesn’t necessarily mean that one necessarily would be happy spending their live with such a ‘perfect’ individual.
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