Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Sisterly Threes
I've been watching that PBS show Downton Abbey, which features three aristocratic sisters. I'm also reading a book called The Weird Sisters, which is about three (not so weird) sisters. This seemed like a vaguely odd coincidence until I started thinking about how often sisters appear in sets of three -- King Lear, Cinderella, Inventing the Abbots, Charmed, Gone with the Wind, etc, etc. Also, whenever sisters appear as a threesome, they take on predictable roles: the oldest sister is controlling, the middle sister either hates the oldest sister or sides with her against the youngest, and the youngest sister is lovable but often feckless. I wonder how often these roles apply to three sisters in real life. Is this just general birth order psychology? Being one of three siblings myself, I guess it would be fair to say that I am the most controlling, little Sister Trousers and I do tend to gang up on baby Brother Trousers, and Brother Trousers is the most affable and feckless of the bunch.
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I keep hearing how good that show is. One of these days I'll break down and start watching it too. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteWeren't there three witches in Hamlet? I feel like the three-sisters trope often features witch-like sisters.
I really like the show! And it's pure eye candy -- both the set design (it's filmed at a real castle!) and costume design are amazing. I also like that even though the show follows people from a number of social classes, it's not about the terribleness of the class system and the abuses of those in power. The main family is polite and kind to their servants, and the servants are for the most part glad and proud to work for them.
ReplyDeleteAnd there were indeed three witch sisters in Hamlet (which is, in fact, where the name "The Weird Sisters" came from). You're right about the three-witch trope. There are also the three brides of Dracula, the three faces of the Morrigan, and the Witches of Eastwick (although I guess technically, only the brides are sisters).