Analyzing Women’s Strength in Fiction: Mental Strength in Movies

1.  Shuzuku Tsukishima, Whisper of the Heart:
Subcategory: emotional

Shizuku is an ordinary student who doesn’t have much of a goal in life. She mainly loves to read, and doesn’t know what else she would like to do. But through encounters with a young, ambitious violin maker, a cat statue, an antique shop owner, a cat that likes to ride trains, and simply ordinary life, she discovers her passion is to write. She even sets up a goal to finish her first novel by the time a friend/ sort of boyfriend returns home after pursuing one of his passions. Shizuku earned her spot on this list for her stubborn determination in meeting her goals. Writing a book in two months is hard, and yet she persists anyway, even while dealing with the stress of daily life and writer’s block.

2. Coraline Jones, Coraline:

Subcategory: emotional

Coraline starts off as being a little bratty and whiny. But as her life turns upside down and she encounters truly frightening things, she discovers the bravery, kindness, and smarts she never knew she had. When she ends up stuck in a game between her and the Other Mother, she uses her wits and fast thinking to survive. Coraline’s journey is similar to Chihiro’s from Spirited Away; they start off as petty and bratty, but discover the hidden virtues that come out during life changing circumstances.  She manages to outwit the dangers of the Other World, and confronts The Other Mother despite her fears. She even manages to outwit her at her own game! 

3. M, James Bond franchise

Subcategory: emotional

M is the director of MI6, which is really not an easy job. She has to make tough calls and rarely rely on her own feelings. She may seem overly cold and detached, but she is in charge of several missions and spywork, which calls for objective reasoning. I haven’t rewatched the movies in a while, so this will be short; basically, she makes tough calls and sacrifices when no one else can, and she can still often hold her own. 

4. Mattie Ross, True Grit:

Subcategory: physical

Dang, I wanted to put her on the book section so bad, but realized that she was still in a movie. So Mattie is much more independent, capable, and shrewd at the age of 14 than most older heroines are nowadays. She’s chasing the coward Tom Chaney, who shot and killed  her father over really stupid reasons. Mattie has been known to barter and get just about anything she wants, is able to hire a ranger called Rooster Cogburn to help her find Chaney, and has some obvious tough skin, even in life threatening circumstances. Barely anything makes her lose her cool, and she is single minded in her pursuit. 

5. Michelle, 10 Cloverfield Lane:
Subcategory: physical

Michelle is a heroine who managed to balance the three types of strength flawlessly and without feeling overpowered. After a car accident, she wakes up to find herself kidnapped and hidden in a bunker. A man called Howard claims that the world is ending outside, and that she, him, and another man called Emmett are the only safe ones. After many attempted escapes, Michelle faces a dark possibility, and remains in the bunker. However, when her suspicions about Howard reach a point, she and Emmett attempt a final escape. Michelle proves to be physically capable even while injured, resilient, and incredibly intelligent.

Next week is my last installment in this series: mental  strength in Webtoons. I hope you liked this, and that you check it out! Also, I’ve been wondering..should I replace some old images in older Analyzing Women’s Strength series with GIFs? Just wondering. Please give me responses in the comments section!