Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"The trouble with the 'Ugly Duckling' model of 'Stick it through, it'll get better when you grow up' pep talks:

"The ducks who abused the cygnet for being an ugly duckling would have abused the swan for being an ugly drake, if he'd stuck around: 'Your neck's too long!' 'Why don't you have a nice green back like the rest of us?!' etc.

"Things got better for the title character, true. But not because he 'grew out of' an 'ugly' phase (he was never in an ugly phase). They got better because he escaped an abusive community and was found by another where he fit in.

-- capriuni, 2011-07-28