And yes, the association of unattractiveness with evil is also frustrating.
Of course, this makes me think of Danton. No one (historian or novelist) seems to be able to resist the opportunity of emphasizing how ugly he was, even when they like him. I remember Gita May's biography of Madame Roland, which suggests that Roland's strong aversion to Danton's physical appearance (and, probably, his personality and behavior) led her to reject his efforts to compromise with the Girondins. If she had been more willing to engage with Danton, May suggests, then maybe the Girondins might not have met their end when they did. Obviously, it was more complicated than this, but I remember being struck by that detail while reading the book.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-11-08 01:11 am (UTC)Of course, this makes me think of Danton. No one (historian or novelist) seems to be able to resist the opportunity of emphasizing how ugly he was, even when they like him. I remember Gita May's biography of Madame Roland, which suggests that Roland's strong aversion to Danton's physical appearance (and, probably, his personality and behavior) led her to reject his efforts to compromise with the Girondins. If she had been more willing to engage with Danton, May suggests, then maybe the Girondins might not have met their end when they did. Obviously, it was more complicated than this, but I remember being struck by that detail while reading the book.