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Chapter 2
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
Prince Humperdinck, Count Rugen, King Lotharon, and Queen Bella meet in the council room to discuss Humperdinck's marriage. King Lotharon mumbles his belief that it's time to find a bride, and Bella kindly pats his arm and translates his mumbles: she says that he said that the lucky woman will be getting a handsome husband. She notes that Lotharon is doing better these days because they just fired Miracle Max and found a new miracle man. The conversation turns to Princess Noreena of Guilder, who'd be a politically perfect match. Guilder is across Florin Channel and is Florin's main enemy. Humperdinck insists that Noreena needs to be able to hunt with him, but Bella says that Noreena probably won't do that. She talks about Noreena's beauty and famous hat collection and decides to visit her.
Though there's no reason to suspect that Queen Bella is anything but kind and gentle to her husband, it's worth noting that she doesn't exactly “translate” his mumbles correctly. This represents another form of abridgement, and one that Goldman suggests could have real consequences, depending on how or what Queen Bella “translates” Lotharon's words. The fact that Humperdinck initially wants a wife to share in his hobbies suggests that he does have the ability to meaningfully connect with someone—in other words, he's not all bad.
Themes
Goldman cuts in and says that the next 56 pages has to do with packing as Bella packs her wardrobe, travels to Guilder, unpacks, and invites Princess Noreena to visit. The rest of the passage details the voyage of both women back to Florin, where Noreena then unpacks all her clothes. Goldman says that he spoke to Professor Bongiorno at Columbia, who said that this chapter is the most satirical chapter in the book. Apparently, Morgenstern was trying to show that Guilder is more civilized than Florin by describing the superiority of the ladies' clothes. Goldman suggests that the chapter is a good cure for insomnia. However, Noreena arrives in Florin, is beautiful, and does indeed have an extensive hat collection. The story picks up at the evening meal.
Goldman's tone when he talks about what he cut out and what Professor Bongiorno said about the passage reminds the reader of Goldman's thoughts about the original Morgenstern: namely, that it's too dense and complex for anyone other than a Florinese scholar to be able to appreciate. Thus, by snidely insulting Professor Bongiorno, Goldman also suggests that he's on the reader's side and will fight for fun books, even though he and the professor are still part of the same publishing world.
Themes
Dinner is held in the Great Hall, which is a massive and so drafty that winds sometimes reach gale force. At 8:23, things are looking good for the prospective marriage, but this all changes a minute later. In that minute, the servants prepare to serve essence of brandied pig and open a huge door to bring in the pig. Another door opens to bring in the wine, and this creates a strong crosswind. Then, King Lotharon enters the hall through the King's Door, which makes the wind even stronger. Candles blow out, setting a few people and parts of the table on fire, and Princess Noreena's hat blows off. She puts it back on, but it's too late: Prince Humperdinck saw that she's bald and angrily storms out of the hall.
It seems likely that things would've been just fine between Humperdinck and Noreena, and yet, he looks heartless and selfish because of the way he refuses to marry her for this physical quality. This shows that Humperdinck will make assumptions about others that make him feel superior when it's convenient.
Themes
Queen Bella runs after Prince Humperdinck, who declares that he's not going to marry a bald princess and have people talking about him behind his back forever. He insists that he'll conquer Guilder sometime and this alliance isn't even necessary. Count Rugen steps forward and asks if Humperdinck would be interested in a commoner who can't hunt. Humperdinck says he really just wants a drop-dead gorgeous wife.
Again, by insisting that Humperdinck just wants to marry a beautiful woman, he shows that he doesn't even value intelligence—his or anyone else's. Count Rugen's suggestion implies that he's actually more intelligent than Humperdinck is, as he's clearly able to gather information and look past first appearances as he does so.
Themes
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At dawn, Count Rugen and Prince Humperdinck ride to the hill by Buttercup's farm. Humperdinck isn't sure he'll be able to marry a milkmaid, but when Buttercup comes out of the house she shocks him with her beauty. He sends Rugen away so that he can court Buttercup. When he gets close to Buttercup and Horse, he tells her that he commands her to marry him and if she says no, she'll die. Buttercup says no and notes that marriage means love, and she's had bad experiences and doesn't want to love again. Humperdinck lays out his case: he has no interest in love; he just needs a woman to give him a son. Buttercup agrees to marry him.
Prince Humperdinck's sudden desire to marry Buttercup, even though she's a commoner, shows again that he's not interested in anything but surrounding himself with people who will make him look and feel good. In this case, he doesn't want an intelligent wife, as she might make him look less so, and he wants a wife who's beautiful to make others jealous.
Themes
