Damsel in Distress

Damsel In Distress

The word "damsel" derives from the French demoiselle, meaning "young lady", and the term "damsel in distress" in turn is a translation of the French demoiselle en dĂ©tresse. It is an archaic term not used in modern English except for effect or in expressions such as this, which can be traced back to the knight errant of Medieval songs and tales, who regarded the saving of such women as an essential part of his raison d'ĂȘtre.

Read more about Damsel In Distress:  Critical and Theoretical Responses, As A Fetish

Famous quotes containing the word distress:

    “All great movements are popular movements. They are the volcanic eruptions of human passions and emotions, stirred into activity by the ruthless Goddess of Distress or by the torch of the spoken word cast into the midst of the people.”
    —Adolf Hitler (1889–1945)