Martyr Complex

[Kat]

Is anyone else started to get seriously sick of all these heroines choosing to sacrifice themselves for the ones they love in ridiculous ways?

I get that it's the ultimate sacrifice and it's supposed to be really nice and all but almost every single book has some heroine falling onto her own sword just to save someone. Very few end up looking out for their own best interests and it really pisses me off.

Katniss was okay, she eventually just did what she wanted anyways. But Tris, not so much. And Bella, don't even think about it.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starting to get a martyr complex. How about you?

[Christina]

I couldn't agree more! I've been reading a few other popular YA series and that strife and martyrdom is certainly a popular element. I think that's why I am gravitating towards other, less known YA books. So far, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown has a main character/narrator who is female, but I think her path is much different than Katniss, Tris, or (ugh) Bella.

You know, even Tally Youngblood in Scott Westerfield's Uglies is a martyr. How she gets there is much different than these other girls, but somehow is all comes down to her being the one that has to save them all.

Perhaps these authors are going back to the Greek and Roman times when it fell to the hero to save his people. I remember studying them in my English classes and forgiving that element. Now, seeing it over and over again, I'm wondering if maybe its a Feminist ideal- where the young woman can take care of not only herself but her people. Its a great aspiration, but we are seeing it constantly- you're right.