The King and Queen did the best they could. They hired the…
““The King and Queen did the best they could. They hired the most superior tutors and governesses to teach Cimorene all the things a princess ought to know— dancing, embroidery, drawing, and etiquette. There was a great deal of etiquette, from the proper way to curtsy before a visiting prince to how loudly it was permissible to scream when being carried off by a giant. (...) Cimorene found it all very dull, but she pressed her lips together and learned it anyway. When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she would go down to the castle armory and bully the armsmaster into giving her a fencing lesson. As she got older, she found her regular lessons more and more boring. Consequently, the fencing lessons became more and more frequent. When she was twelve, her father found out. “Fencing is not proper behavior for a princess,” he told her in the gentle-but-firm tone recommended by the court philosopher. Cimorene tilted her head to one side. “Why not?” “It’s ... well, it’s simply not done.” Cimorene considered. “Aren’t I a princess?” “Yes, of course you are, my dear,” said her father with relief. He had been bracing himself for a storm of tears, which was the way his other daughters reacted to reprimands. “Well, I fence,” Cimorene said with the air of one delivering an unshakable argument. “So it is too done by a princess.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Princess Cimorene rebels against restrictive court etiquette by secretly learning fencing, challenging gender norms and expectations of royalty.
In simple terms: She defies princess duties to pursue swordplay.
Key Takeaway
Challenge constraints and follow your passion.
Themes
rebellion
gender roles
education
royalty
Mood
defiant
inspirational
Type
fictional
adventurous
When to use this quote
- royal upbringing
- learning combat
- asserting independence
Key Concepts
self‑determination
social expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should be respected in tradition?
- How can one balance duty and personal desire?
A Different Perspective
The narrative may romanticize disobedience without addressing consequences.