Attolia's Beauty

[velvetrose09.livejournal.com]

Okay, I know I've been posting a lot, but I've just re-read and you know how it is.

So this new thought struck me and I was wondering what you lot would make of it. Attolia and her beauty. Gen falls in love with Attolia. Attolia is known for her beauty (which Gen always forgets because she is also known for her cruelty). But he is able to fall in love with her still, despite everything. Maybe more so, because he gets to know her and how hard she has fought to keep her country. 
Only I still can't help but wonder, if Attolia was not only cruel but ugly too. I don't mean this is a 'mean' way. Eddis is described by Gen as ugly, but her personality makes her more loved. Where as with all Attolia's beauty she is only feared and well very much the opposite of Eddis. However, if Attolia was described as cruel, with a hooked nose and choppy hair...would Gen be able to find and love the real woman beneath?

Thoughts?  
 

On another note. I've been keep tract of Eddis/Sounis/Attolia vs. Mede with points so far it's 3:2
with our favorites leading! All the explanations are in this post: http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/441443.html :)

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I think she's aware that others perceive her as beautiful - recall that Phresine teases her about looking tired in The Queen of Attolia, where her "beauty will be gone, and [her] suitors will lose interest."

Rather cynically, Attolia responds that the beauty is just a mask and when it fades, it'll be replaced with another mask - "Power. What men like best for themselves and least in their women."

If men seem to find that power makes women unattractive, Phresine rather dangerously adds that Attolia should marry before her beauty fades. Attolia seems to be aware of her beauty and places some stock into it, but it seems also like most of her barons are too aware of her cruelty and ruthlessness to be easily fooled. Nahuseresh isn't familiar at all with her and underestimates her because she's a woman, a very beautiful one, both of which she takes advantage of.