Our appetite for the miraculous endures; we continue to want there to be something beyond our ken. We hope to locate the secret powers we didn't know we had, like the ruby slippers Dorothy finds on her feet and that Glinda has to tell her how to work. Where women are concerned, it is preferable that those powers manifest only when crisis strikes; the best heroine is the accidental one.
The desire for the extraordinary remains strong in us; we are always searching for something beyond our understanding. This quest often leads us to discover hidden strengths, much like Dorothy's magical ruby slippers that require guidance to unlock their potential. In this pursuit, we often expect these powers to arise primarily in moments of crisis.
When it comes to female characters, the ideal heroine is often the one who stumbles upon her abilities unexpectedly, rather than one who actively seeks them out. This idea underscores a cultural narrative that situates women in roles where their strength becomes apparent only in dire situations, reflecting societal expectations about women's empowerment and agency.
