Today we're talking about Evil Queens. Yes, I know. This is the second post this month I've devoted to the awesomeness of evil characters and you're concerned for me and my seeming lack of moral fiber. That, or you've read this blog long enough to know that in place of moral fiber I was just given an extra snark gene. Or twenty.
But it doesn't change the fact that we're talking about evil queens. Good queens are well and... well, good (yes, folks! Marvel at my command of the English language!) but the evil queens get to have all the fun and all the good lines and they often times make a fantasy story that much more interesting. Not to mention they're often times rather integral to the plot. Not every good fantasy story has an evil queen but some of the very best do and this post will be dedicated to four of them (listed in no particular order). If I leave out your favorites, please mention them in the comments.
1. The Queen of Hearts from Alice In Wonderland.
First of all, give yourself bonus points (no cash value) if you now have a certain Juice Newton song stuck in your head. (If you don't have a certain Juice Newton song stuck in your head, it's possible you're too young to read this blog. That, or I'm in desperate need of a life.)
Second of all, the Queen of Hearts is noted for being a short tempered, foul tempered croquet enthusiast. She is NOT the Red Queen from Alice In Wonderland's sequel, Through The Looking Glass. And then there's this (courtesy of Lewis Carroll):
The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. 'Off with his head!' she said, without even looking round.
2. The Wicked Queen (AKA the Evil Queen) from Snow White.
Interesting fun fact: In the first edition of the Snow White tale, the wicked queen was Snow White's biological mother. Not her stepmother. Also, Snow White's name in the first edition was actually Snowdrop
Another interesting fun fact: The Disney version of this character ranks #10 on the American Film Institute list of the 100 Best Villains of All Time
Famous line: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?
3. The White Witch from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Jadis is her name and freezing Narnia is her game. When The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe begins, this winter has lasted for 100 years and her castle is filled with petrified ( as in 'turned to stone') Narnians. Yikes.
She's also the reason we have a "don't take candy from strangers" policy for our children as she lures Edmund Pevensie into her sleigh with Turkish Delight.
4. Queen Bavmorda from Willow
All right, so just how awesome was this movie?
This is a character from the 1988 film directed by Ron Howard. It also starred Val Kilmer (Madmartigan) and Warwick Davis as the titular character. Queen Bavmorda hears a prophecy stating that a newborn baby girl will bring about her downfall so naturally, she imprisons all pregnant women in her stronghold until the child in question is born. Of course, a midwife takes the child and escapes and all hell breaks loose. Bavmorda sends out the troops to track the child down. While she waits for the infant to be returned to her, she turns people into possums, other people into ice, and some into pigs. At least she has variety, right?
Right.
And now... It's Shameless Plug Time!
My own fantasy series, The Coileáin Chronicles, has an evil queen of its own, Zaide Romanza Brollachan. I thought about posting the scene from Effigy where she ascends the throne but it's way too long for an A to Z Challenge post. If you're interested in reading it, you can do so HERE.
Thanks for stopping by... see y'all tomorrow!