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 détresse. 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'être.

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

Famous quotes containing the word distress:

    “People believe a man is in distress because his loved one dies in one day. But his real pain is less futile: it is that he finds out that sadness too does not last. Even pain has no meaning.”
    —Albert Camus (1913–1960)