Spilling the beans · 4:46pm Dec 15th, 2017
So, I have decided to spill the beans.
Butter Fudge's reaction to Seville's arrival has a deep and profound meaning, but I debated on whether or not to share it.
What it boils down to, more or less, is public perception. She is all too aware that the community watches everything that goes on, and gossips, because she does it too.
She knows how vicious some ponies can be because she is one of them.
And Seville, being a male, arrived when her husband was away.
If she was just nice to him and invited him right inside
Somebody watching might say something, and that something might spiral out of control.
So, she has to make a big public display about tossing him into the drink, to satisfy those who might be watching.
It is a subtle bit of commentary on gossip and anonymous viciousness that insular communities like this one are known to take part of.
Think back to what Butter Fudge said to Buttermilk, about cheating and her responsibilities. There is a lot going on beneath the surface, and I don't know if anybody is getting it.
Just like people not getting why Butter Fudge didn't show her ass and speak out against her husband. She can't.
Pulled from the Discord.
Butter Fudge lives in a household where her husband is arguably in charge, and speaking out against him goes against the grain. It's that sexism thing that Buttermilk complains about from time to time. Rather than stand her own ground, Butter Fudge retreated from the situation rather than totally unload on her husband. See, she can't just lash out at her husband here, because that would go against everything she had taught her daughter on how to act, how to be, and how to behave. Butter Fudge is smart enough to know that if she steps out of line, her daughter will call her out. So, she's trapped. She was totally unable to say what she really wanted to say here, not without looking like a total hypocrite.
So, everything plays out where the patriarchal voice gets to have his say and no one challenges him, because he is in charge. How this played out is actually showing, rather than telling, just how deep some of these problems and issues are. The so-called 'man of the house' gets his chance to speak out, unchallenged in his own home, which is actually really gross and unfair because it was Butter Fudge's home before he came along. But now, she's been marginalised and made rather subservient, all in the name of traditional family values and ideals.
There is a ton of depth here, but only on closer examination.
It's funny, because this chapter is more of an emotional blowout caused by societal mores than a political one.
Eh, I don't know how I feel about post chapter commentary, but I feel that maybe, it is kinda necessary? There are some concepts here that people might not be aware of, or even have conceptualised knowledge of. There is certainly a discussion to be had about small towns and insular communities. For people who have never lived in such places, it might seem totally alien or even far-fetched. I had a great many questions and private messages about this chapter... many of which were confused. Folk wanted to know why such an outspoken character like Butter Fudge just took it on the chin, or why she was so vicious upon Seville's arrival. Clearly, some folks haven't witnessed some of the fuckery that is going on, so I thought that maybe, I'd create a blog post about it. It is something worth discussing, I suppose, if only to learn something from it.
Even worse, Buttermilk is trying to repeat her mother's mistakes, as evidenced by her compulsion to go full blown domestic, and trying to impress Copperquick with her mad kitchen skillz.
It isn't enough to entice him with her scholarly skills, no.
She can't be brainy and intelligent.
No, she has to slip back into what her mother taught her, and cast aside her higher education and her intellect. Copperquick, to his credit, even cottons on to this behaviour.
Yeah, go ahead and hyper-link this blog into an authors note at the end of that chapter, because you really CANT fit all this data into a clean narrative, but it needs to be shared.
A damn shame fimfiction formatting cant really support footnotes in a Terry Pratchett manner.
honestly i'm fine with chapter commentary, it brings forth more content and challenges perspective i have on characters. I had previously thought Butter Fudge to be head strong and uncaring about what the public around her thinks of her, and that she threatened Seville with the drink primary on trespassing . this in mind it has me wondering whether ripple rushers lover boy ran off on his own volition, as well as her dads reaction, (theory) he reacted so because he was essentially planning an arranged marriage for her that he would have greatly benefited from and thus lost that opportunity when she asked his help for a wedding. first guess would be Mr Mariner as the potential husband heh heh
You definitely asnwered a question or two that I had in the last couple chapters. Thanks for posting this. It wouldn't be a horrible idea to put a link to this blog in the A/N, like 4749665 said.
Huh. I do come from a small village, but I suppose both my antisocial tendencies and asexuality ruled out the possibility that Butter Fudge was fearing gossip about being unfaithful.
Also, she hit me as a pony who in the community's eyes would be that matron pony who is somewhat immune to that sort of thing by now. But the inside of her head looks different - that was a misjudgement on my part.
4749685
A matriarchal type is just a bigger, juicier target, really.
I have to admit, I had no idea that all this was going on beneath the surface. I’m glad you made this blog post, because otherwise all these social issues would have gone completely over my head.
4749691
I suppose I have a very idealistic or romantisised view of the influence of the matron.
But I agree, if you see it from the perspective of somepony desperate on tearing apart other ponies, than yes, she is a great target with much EP to gain.
Yeah... I think this is a case (two cases) where tell would have been better than show, because I interpreted those scenes completely differently and didn't see any of the character motivations you were trying to get across.
I got it, but I was brought up in a tiny, sheltering church which rarely got new members. Single people who joined either married quickly or left smoking (the type of church where the elders believed they had full power over everyone—I remember our family being told to move, so we bought the house across the street from the church).
The only people immune were the elders and the pastor’s wife & sister. It’s horrifyingly toxic and girl’s behavior is policed from toddlerhood. (One incident: A 2yo was denounced from the pulpit for her bloomer and skirt combo for inciting lustful thoughts.)
Made perfect sense. Yep.
The turn-around only makes sense in-story, knowing Kudz goals. One conversation? Narrative convenience! But it fits the style.
i got the jist of all of it myself. the two of them are having their world views coming apart at the seams here. but hwile midge is immensely stressed out and confused bout it, but trying to accept this new knowledge, fudge is trying to find excuses to ignore it.
ii have had personally encounters with that. i one said to a family member that a massive issue of the usa is that we are supposed to funnel down issues into bipartison decisions. two perspectives and finding the best answer. twas the design. but instead we get divided and confused and it weakens us, especially against corrupt and sutpid people that seem to ALWAYS get into office.
course all that said family member could say was 'well you don't try to agree with us'.