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The Knight and the Dragon complex
Madonna/Whore is a well-known complex in mainstream media.
As a female character stereotype, Madonna/Whore provides a shorthand for how a woman may choose to interact with a man in her life. She can play out an interaction as a ‘Marilyn Monroe’ sex kitten, always up for ‘it’ whatever it might be. Alternatively, she can play the maternal martyr. She can sacrifice her goals and desires at the altar of the man she seeks to validate (and whose validation she may seek.)
Madonna/Whore is even found in children’s literature, classic tales like ‘Peter Pan.’ Wendy is the martyr, the ‘good girl,’ and Tinkerbell is the jealous, sparkly side piece that Peter can keep in his pocket for a rainy day.
Men and women understand the social currency inherent in either role. We can intuitively act out these roles when context suggests them.
When we discard these roles or call them out, we risk discomfort. ‘All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players’…When we fail to play our parts, the show stalls. People get confused, irritated, and curious…
