When
Professor Henry Higgins offered to make-over Eliza Doolittle in
"My Fair Lady," feminists were outraged, but romance enthusiasts
knew this was romance in its purest form… A "good" girl,
led astray by circumstances, has an opportunity to better herself,
find wealth and love. While a Rags to Riches plot changes the
heroine's physical circumstances, it psychically transforms the
hero. Riches aren't always fiscal and the "Pygmalion" is both
student and teacher. But if the story is reversed, the lessons
of love are switched, too! When a heroine goes from Riches to
Rags, she is the one who experiences the emotional metamorphosis and
learns what is truly important!
These two classic themes
aren't quite the opposites they seem. In fact they both demonstrate
that fantasy revolves around both happiness and wealth, in what
ever form. In a Rags to Riches romance, the lovers find that
money isn't everything and love will conquer all prejudice.
Curiously, a Riches to Rags romance teaches a similar lesson:
money isn't everything and love will transform any inequities.
But true to form, neither romance ends happily if the lovers
don't have it all: humanity, love and wealth. Both love stories
must end prosperously if the reader is to be satisfied!
What's The Appeal?
Who doesn't dream of winning
the lottery? It's the perfect fantasy, the cure-all that will
solve everyone's problems. Although we know money isn't everything,
it sure does improve the quality of life. Many of us believe
goodness will be reward, so why not with a cash reward!?
In
a Rags to Riches romance, the heroine usually comes from a
common background and is transformed into a lady by the hero,
thus becoming worthy of his love. The heroine in turn offers
the hero a powerful exchange: she teaches him what is of real
value–goodness, spirit and love.
But after reading a Rags to
Riches romance, if you think money isn't everything, try turning
this theme upside down. Take away the wealth from the heroine
and what happens? Usually the heroine, who lacks a greater
sense of humanity, is taught to appreciate inner worth by the
hero. But would the romance be successful without the gaining
of great wealth in the end? Usually not. These stories don't
work unless they are Riches to Rags to Riches again. The fantasy
just won't be complete for the reader without the proof that love is
golden!
Class-based societies intensify the disparity between the
very affluent and the indigent. But romantics can see beyond
the surface to what really counts. These popular themes act as
levelers, for despite the seeming differences between the classes,
having great wealth really doesn't mean you have it all. In
fact usually it takes exposure to a person who has "nothing" to
make the hero or heroine aware that they have much to change
before they will find real happiness and love.
Romantics
know that it is the inner spirit that is rich. Love has the power to
transform the "uncivilized" and gives the overly-socialized the
opportunity to value what is really important: humanity. In
either romance, goodness is its own reward.
-Kate Ryan
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