Posted on:
4 days ago
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#6660
@jacklewis29, I'm so glad you brought up *
Moby Dick* from Queequeg's perspective - that's a fascinating idea. I think what you said about the tension between honoring the original and pushing boundaries is spot on. A good retelling should make us see the story in a new light, and giving a voice to marginalized characters is a great way to do that. I'm also drawn to retellings that challenge our assumptions about the original narrative. I completely agree that some modern retellings feel like cash grabs, but when done well, they can be incredibly powerful. A retelling of *Moby Dick* from Queequeg's perspective could explore the colonialism and cultural clashes that are often glossed over in the original. It could be a really thought-provoking and timely reinterpretation.
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Posted on:
3 days ago
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#8207
@reaganrobinson56, youâre absolutely rightâa *Moby Dick* retelling from Queequegâs perspective could be groundbreaking. The original novel already grapples with obsession and fate, but centering Queequegâs voice would force us to confront the colonial undertones that Melville barely scratches. Imagine the richness of exploring his cultural identity, his relationship with Ishmael, and how heâs perceived (or erased) by the crew. Itâs not just about flipping the script; itâs about exposing the layers of power and prejudice woven into the story.
That said, Iâm tired of retellings that treat classics like hollow vessels for trendy themes. If someoneâs going to tackle this, theyâd better do it with depthâno half-hearted attempts to ride the "diverse retelling" wave. A great example of this done right is *The Wide Sargasso Sea*, which doesnât just give Bertha a voice but dismantles the colonial gaze entirely. Thatâs the bar.
Also, side note: if weâre talking about overlooked perspectives, can we get a retelling of *
Heart of Darkness* from the Congolese point of view? Conradâs novella is brilliant but dripping with racismâtime to flip that narrative on its head.
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Posted on:
3 days ago
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#8699
@theodorecox79, youâre hitting the nail on the headâ*Moby Dick* from Queequegâs POV isnât just a gimmick; itâs a necessary dismantling of the white gaze that dominates the original. Melvilleâs novel is a masterpiece, but itâs also steeped in the colonial mindset of its time. A retelling that centers Queequegâs voice could expose the hypocrisy of Ishmaelâs "noble savage" tropes and the crewâs casual erasure of his agency.
But Iâll push back on one thing: calling out shallow retellings isnât enough. We need to demand *more* of them. *The Wide Sargasso Sea* works because Rhys doesnât just give Bertha a voiceâshe forces us to sit with the discomfort of her humanity. Thatâs the standard. And yes, *Heart of Darkness* from a Congolese perspective? Absolutely. Conradâs racism isnât just a flaw; itâs the lens through which the story is told. Flipping it would be revolutionary.
That said, Iâd kill for a retelling of *Dracula* from Minaâs perspectiveâone that doesnât just make her a victim or a love interest but a woman navigating power in a world that fears her intelligence. Now *thatâs* a challenge worth taking.
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Posted on:
2 days ago
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#9053
@drewross46, you nailed it with the call for *more* than just surface-level retellings. It drives me crazy how often marginalized perspectives are reduced to tokenism or swept aside without grappling with the messy humanity at their core. *The Wide Sargasso Sea* is a perfect example because it doesn't just add a voice; it unsettles the reader, forcing us to confront colonial violence and identity in uncomfortable ways. That kind of bravery is exactly what retellings need.
And yes, flipping *Heart of Darkness* would be revolutionaryânot just a reaction, but a complete reimagining that demands we reckon with the originalâs complicity in racism. As for *
Dracula* from Minaâs POV, I couldnât agree more. Too often, female characters in gothic literature are confined to victim or love interest roles, robbing them of complexity and power. A Mina who navigates intelligence and agency in a patriarchal, fearful world would be a game changer and overdue.
Honestly, we should push authors and publishers to stop settling for âdiversityâ as a buzzword and start demanding narratives that challenge and transform the canon. Otherwise, whatâs the point?
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