OMFG FINALLY!! Someone who talks sense!!
Thansk, I just really hate the toxic hating on every girl who doesn't kiss the main character's ass.
Tldr: she's a victim of circumstance. I feel bad for her but at the same time, I don't like or hate her. Her compassion is a great quality, but as a person with feelings- I can't understand how she can afford to have sympathy for anyone but herself (i.e. protecting the mc from showing weakness to others).
She has great character quality in theory, but ig not many people can relate to it bc it seems to come off as as a Mary-Sue situation a.k.a. the OP character that happens to have all the love at her disposal for no particularly deep or meaningful reason other than being pretty and offering shallow support to love interests at the right time (in Helena's case). Although the story gives a some insight to her background- the plot doesn't offer much 'redemption' (yet) to our MC for many to sympathize with Helena. For Helena, her story started off bad, but it got better than most ppl would in that situation bc of the affection she effortlessly got. Our MC on the other hand came from better circumstances in theory- but not really. Ig Helena realizes the power and freedom she holds over the MC and feels bad. Kinda tragic :L
I think it's only natural that we would sympathise with the main character, Eris, but that doesn't mean antagonising Helena is reasonable. So I was mostly speaking about people who are hating on her for petty reasons. The only character that deserve being shitted on is the prince and the king. Shocker, nobility is trash. I also have to disagree with the Mary-su aspect, I don't think she's a Mary-Sue. She's definitely more so than the original love interests.
I think it's good that you have a neutral stance, I'm assuming since you said you don't like or hate her. I'm also pretty netural about her, it's just the overwhelming and childish critic of her character was annoying. Personally I'm more interested in where her character will go, and I think of the original main cast her relationship with Eris has the most potential. I'd love to see them come to an understanding, I don't expect friendship but something alongs a mutual respect would be cool.
I agree. About the Mary-Sue thing though, I'm just thinkkng it's easy to assume that Helena kinda resembles a character of that quality. She definitely does have more depth than the typical Mary-Sue, but I think the love interests fell for that initial aspect of Helena having that Mary-Sue vibe(?) The prince for example just sees her as a helpless victim and wants to protect her- not knowing that half the time he causes people (inside the story and irl) to hate her. The fact that Helena can't defend herself bc of her status feeds into his assumption that she's a helpless sort of Mary-Sue. It's a vicious cycle of suffering (yikes). And for the other red haired guy (I forgot his name) Helena just said smth that encouraged him through a tough time and he fell for her? I vaguely remember the set up of his crush but it kind of made me think "Mary-Sue set up". Idk abt the priest lol we dont see him much.
I'll just blame the men for making her seem like that shallow character trope lol. I dont believe you need a particular reason to love someone but the easy men take their crap and run with it (poor Helena). I think eventually Eris and Helena will reach a point of understanding like you said-but at a distance. Our MC definitely isn't in the mindset to attach herself to anyone I think lmaooo. I personally like that detachedness lol
I feel like she fits more into the manic pixie dream girl, in which she has a lot more to her personality, but her love interests only care about the aspects of her personality which make her an easy target for lack of better of phrasing. Though I don't think Helena is simple, the red haired guy(I also forgot his name lol) and the prince choose to only focus on the fact that she's compassionate, has a low status, and is weak in the traditional sense.
In some sense Eris and Helena are viewed in the same narrow view by both character. In which they're reduced from people with complex personalities and more into rigid archetypes. Eris and Helena seem to be the most tactful and clever characters, both being very aware of the cards staked against them and willing to use it to their advantage, so I honestly like when the story centres around either one. I also really like our MC's detachedness, I hate it when they try to befriend the characters they hurt. It feels so forced and in real life it would be so awkward.
Same, I literally cannot stand character bashing because it serves no point. Helena didn't even do anything super unforgivable, yet she's getting all this thoughtless hate. Sure she didn't do anything but can anyone really blame her? She was pushed into situations where she had no breathing room to do whatever she wants. I honestly feel more sorry for her, especially considering the spoilers I got about her.
Justice for Helena!
Helena isn't doing anything. The prince is the one who is unfaithful, everything Helena is doing is out of self-preservation. She knows the favouritism will only bite her in the back, both from the prince and Empress, but she also knows that rejecting it will hurt her too. She's literally in a lose-lose situation. And if you had to ask who was worse it was obviously the past version of Eris who took out her frustrations on an innocent bystander. And even worse than her was the Prince, who is a spineless coward who would rather hurt those around him by indulging in his own wants than acknowledging others needs. Such as his engagement to Eris, and Helena's Family status.
I also hate how the blame is being put on a girl who has the least amount of power. Have you forgotten she's not in a position where she can say no. We know how insensitive the prince is. She shouldn't be blamed for things she can't control.
It's literally so ironic that the whole villainess as the main character is to show that just because a character is put in the antagonist role doesn't mean they are bad. Yet here we're hating a character just because she's Eris antagonist, not the villain but someone who she's pitted against and stands in her way, but that doesn't make Helena a bad guy. If you guys can't have sympathy for any other character but the main character and characters who fall to her feet, than go read a shitty otome game were the all the characters are one dimensional. But don't go calling Helena evil because what? The prince likes her?