My Top Five Heroines of all Time

Thinking of my top five heroines of all time I only had to look into my heart.

My Number One Heroine is my Mother

A woman of outstanding achievements and utmost kindness. You have to see know many people, from all walks of life, are happy to meet her although she is retired now (she worked as head nurse in the surgery department), and how warmly and highly they speak of her, of how she has helped them or, simply, of how much kindness she showed them. My Mom is my heroine, through all of her sacrifices – those I know of and those I don’t know, yet I wish I would so that they will not be forgotten.

My Number Two Heroine is my Amazing Teen Daughter

My daughter, for her outstanding courage, optimism and perseverance. To be a teenager in today’s über-technologized world, with so much pressure on all levels is far more challenging than it was, um, years ago, when it has been my turn to emerge from my chrysalis.

Yet my daughter’s courage gets her standing tall each day and, through her optimism, she discovers something to be grateful for each evening.

My Number Three Heroine is Agatha Christie

For her unique and never-ending literary flair and for her courage and determination. I first read her Autobiography in my teen years and again, at different stages of my life. She didn’t have it easy; it took years to publish her first novel and she had to balance her writing career with a tumultuous personal life. Yet her plots are complex, well-structured and her psychological insight so profound – I do admire her for her well organized mind. “When I grow up I want to be like Agatha Christie” 🙂

My Number Four Heroine is a fictional character

But which one?

Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell?

Remarkable, one of the strongest and most memorable female charters of classic literature. Of course, one can admire her or find her fault, or both at the same time. I will always admire her spirit and will to stay alive, to keep her own safe, and to succeed. I was a teenager when I first read this book and Scarlett’s image has followed me well into my (early) adulthood. Perhaps, unknowingly, this is one of the reasons why historical fiction had always been an interest of mine. Mitchell painted in vivid colors the end of an era and the unrest of an emerging one.

We have all mourned the loss of a specific time in our lives, be it a childhood holiday, a ritual, or a state of spirit we can never return to. And especially now, living the Covid-19 Pandemic, we do say our goodbyes to an idyllic era during which rituals were in place, life followed its course, and traditions and values were well established. Much like in Gone With the Wind, we leave the gentle South behind.
What will tomorrow bring us?

Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen?

Charming, intelligent and strong willed, Lizzie has caught my attention (and many late night reading hours) due to the question she rises for all of us. Can two such opposite personalities really find common ground and achieve happiness? And mostly, the question not answered by Austen (but the one I know I have at the back of my mind each time I read this book and looking for clues as to its answer): will they live together happily ever after?

It is a game of give and get, between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy. Much like any relationship, isn’t it?

Claire Fraser from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon?

Yes, she is smart and stubborn, but she is also brave, determined and has high personal values and for these qualities I do admire her. I admit having read the entire Outlander series published thus far and, at one stage, I honestly felt like setting camp outside Diana’s home, waiting for “Go Tell the Bees that I’m Gone” to be finished. I tried to imagine leading a life during the 18th century yet I could not see myself having the successful – although tumultuous – existence that Claire Fraser did. Nor could I leave my children behind.
Quite a few modern life necessities and, um, amenities, like chocolate, coffee and toilet paper, would certainly hold me from taking that leap, to say the least.

Temperance Brennan from Bones by Kathy Reichs?

More than once I admitted being hooked on Kathy Reichs’ books. If you are familiar with her novels and the TV series you will admit that the two heroines are different, although both equally strong and appealing and I admire them equally.

Tempe Brennan from the TV series is young, fierce and fearless, successful too, standing on her own two feet despite her young age. I admire her for that. I think that my younger self would have identified with her.

Tempe Brennan the book character is older, independent and equally successful, intelligent and with a sharp sense of humor, although she can get herself in (life-threatening) trouble. I can identify with her now, as a more seasoned reader and as a mother too. In some of the books Tempe’s daughter tags along and Tempe does an admiring job at handling her – and if you have teens in your life you know what I mean.

My Number Five Heroine…

Are the strong women. All strong women.

The women who had their heart shredded, and who learned from their past and moved on. Women who were able to leave all pain behind, and follow their road further, stronger and sure of themselves, yet not afraid to show their feelings and that they are vulnerable because they are humans . Women who know how much they are worth and who know when they make a mistake. Women who seize the moment and make the most of each day. Women who do not seek the spotlight, but demand respect. Honest women. Women who still share their heart and follow it.

Because the heart is at the center of life.

I do hope you enjoyed reading My Top Five Heroines of all Time.

Who do you admire?