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Chapter 3
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Princess Bride, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fact vs. Fiction
The Value of Cleverness and Humility
Love, Loyalty, and Friendship
Authorship and Storytelling
Fairytales and Growing Up
Summary
Analysis
Goldman tells the reader that he never knew this chapter even existed until he started abridging, as Goldman's father always just said that three years passed. In the original Morgenstern, however, this is the longest chapter and details how Prince Humperdinck declares Buttercup a princess to appease some persnickety nobles. The new miracle man works on King Lotharon, and then there are 72 pages detailing Buttercup's princess training.
The simple fact that Buttercup spends three years going to princess school makes it clear to the reader that, though Buttercup isn't emotionally intelligent, she is capable of learning the proper way to behave. This reminds the reader that there are multiple different kinds of intelligence, and most people are capable of learning.
Themes
