Stop writing feminist retellings.

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Time markers for my beloveds:
0:00 to 3:17 general discussion on retellings
3:18 Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

[@MsJayteeListens]

I liked a lot of your points, I hated this book for very different reasons, I already don’t like the Shakespeare play because the thing I learnt first was the actual history, and I really don’t like that Shakespeare took a real woman, stripped her of her name and depicted her as evil.
But honestly there were so many historical, geographical and spelling inaccuracies, the lack of feminism fell by the wayside for me. The book actually takes place in a separate plain from this earth, well I assume that given an 11th century Scottish king fights a 10th century English king. She moves Glamis Castle from Perthshire in central Scotland to the highlands. And that bit at the start of the book about period accurate spelling is nonsense, because period accurate spelling would follow Gaelic spelling and it doesn’t.
Technically the book was inadvertently feminist given that with no other women at MacBeth’s court, there must’ve been men doing the cooking, cleaning, sewing, weaving etc. (that was possibly the daftest thing in the book, and boy did it have competition).
There is a retelling I think has a feminist narrative and that’s Val McDermid’s Queen MacBeth, but she retells it on the basis that Shakespeare got everything wrong and that Gruoch (lady MacBeth’s actual name) wasn’t evil, neither were the witches. She says in her author’s note she’s setting Shakespeare straight. It’s one of my favourite retellings.

[@read.with.rupkatha]

I love your points! Considering that Shakespeare retells holinshed chronicles, where one might argue that Macbeth itself is a retelling, I do believe that the treatment given to Lady Macbeth in Macbeth itself isn't empowering, for the lack of a better word.
I'll check out the book you've mentioned!

[@soymikleo]

Ykw even tho I enjoyed Circe, still can’t deny that fr the framing of it as a feminist retelling actually undermined many aspects of the book’s characterization of her-why is her experience and growth still centered around men then? Absolutely adore the original play of Macbeth, so am so seated for your take on the Ava Reid book. (Also your hair is so cute!)

[@read.with.rupkatha]

I agree with you on the topic of Circe! Moreover, Circe's feminist awakening/feminism always came at the extent of women who were socially inferior to her!!
Thank you 🩷

[@Irtysk]

I really enjoyed your viewpoint, and I agree! Great video, thank you!

[@read.with.rupkatha]

Thank you for the sweet comment!!