A Ruin of Roses

Finley is the protagonist and point-of-view character of A Ruin of Roses, and she symbolizes Escaping Restrictive Gender Norms. Finley feels like an outcast in her village because she prefers to wear trousers instead of dresses and dislikes traditionally feminine activities, such as needlepoint. The villagers continuously try to place her in a feminine mold, but she does not conform because, as she puts it, “my abilities were limited to healing, hunting, fishing, gardening, and narrowly escaping the beast of the Forbidden Wood” (37). Finley also refuses to be quiet and demure—qualities women are praised for in her village. Instead, she speaks her mind, even to Jedrek (the most revered man in the village), which only reinforces the opinion of the villagers that she is different. When Finley goes to the castle and is suddenly surrounded by demons who punish exceptionalism, Finley’s inability to conform becomes a danger. The qualities she most prizes, such as her wit and strength, are a liability, and this forces her to acknowledge that it is sometimes beneficial to blend into the background, even if she dislikes doing so. Rather than breaking her spirit, Finley’s experience pretending to be weak only bolsters her urge to stop the demons and break