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The Princess Bride is not the average fairy tale. The prince is not good enough. The hero dies. But most shocking of all is-it mocks and defeats "true love", commenting on society's obsession with the perfect fairy tale love which cannot exist. The book makes this point fairly obviously, so this commentary will focus mainly on the movie. Of course, it takes many viewings to realize the true satirical nature of the film, and the deep underlying message. So if you don't understand quite yet, don't worry. You will.

Westley and Buttercup's relationship is flawed right from the start. The only words they exchanged were when Buttercup ordered him around, moking him, calling him "farm boy". Westley's only words to Buttercup were "as you wish". Their relationship was based solely on these exchanges. They loved each other without ever having a conversation. And yet their relationship is called quite freely "true love". Since their relationship cannot be based upon knowing each other, we can only assume they love each other because they're both gorgeous. True love is nothing more than wanton lust. And that's only the first 15 minutes of the film.

Next, our heroine finds herself bethrothed to Prince Humperdink. "Although the law of the land gave Humperdink the right to choose his bride, she did not love him." Buttercup decides to get married out of fear of 1)death or 2) financial instability. She's marrying out of fear, not out of love. This contridicts the whole "true love" theme.

Humperdink is marrying Buttercup in hopes of coyly killing her and blaming it on Guilder, the sworn enemy of Florin. Humperdink wants to start a war with Guilder to, presumably, crush his enemy forever. What a happy reason for marriage.

When Westley finally catches up with Buttercup, he does not embrace her or hint that he loves her. Instead, he tests, manipulates, and threatens her. Buttercup cannot recognize her "true love's" voice or his eyes or mouth. And when they finally get back together, Buttercup uses Westley to get her safely through the fireswamp and then dumps him to go back with Prince Humperdink. The plot seems to point to the true message of this film, but the dialoge makes it hard to deny.

Let's examine the compliments the couple exchanges throughout the movie. Westley said she was a girl of "surpassing beauty and faithfullness" and said "there are a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. 'Twould be a pity to damage yours." Westley loves Buttercup for no other reason than her beauty. Buttercup has an unrealistic perception of Westley. She believes him to be perfect, except for the poverty. Buttercup describes him as "a farm boy. poor. poor and perfect...with eyes like the sea after a storm" and is bewildered when Westley has no strength "gently? at a time like this that's all you can think to say?...why does my Westley need helping?" Buttercup idolizes Westley. This is an unhealty, unbalanced relationship.

There are many other instances in the film that belittle the whole idea of true love. Westley himself says "Life is pain.. Anyone who says differently is selling something." Are these the words of a man happily in love? Prince Humperdink says "you might have been truly happy. Not one couple in a century has that chance, no matter what the story books say." One of the main characters denys the reality of story books. Also, Vizzini's choices of brilliant men (Plato, Aristotle, Socrates) all believed that love was a mental defect. The epitome of love, as expressed by marriage, is demeaned as well. "Maiwage. Maiwage is wha bwings us togethur towday. Maiwage. Thwat bwessed awaingement. Thwat dweam within a dweam...." This speech was included for no other reason than to mock love and the institution of marraige with a silly accent. (by the way, A dream within a dream is an Edgar Allen Poe poem about how love does not last). Also, Miracle Max said "true love is the greatest thing in the world...other than a nice MLT- mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomatoes are ripe. They're so perky. I love that.." True love pales in comparison to a sandwich, is best described by an Edgar Allen Poe poem, is mocked by an impressive clergyman, and is a mental illness. What a fairy tale, indeed!