The Problem With Judging a Book by Its Cover

I’m sure you know the old adage, “Never judge a book by its cover,” yes?

Does that keep you from doing it?

Despite the old wisdom of that statement, I’m finding that many people choose to ignore it.

Case in point: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

The title alone would have you believe that Maleficent is evil. I mean, it is in the title, is it not?

I personally loved the first movie. The different perspective that was given on an iconic character we’ve known, but not truly known, since our childhood.

The first film with Angeline Jolie gave us a different look at the character and showed us her softer side. And showed us why she became “evil” in the first place.

But I don’t think she was ever evil and the second film showcased that fact even more.

And yet . . . there is someone in my life who warned me not to see the film;
not to take my children because Maleficent is evil.

They even confessed that they didn’t know the story but still passed judgment on it. A judgment that is so incredibly false that his belief was even highlighted in the film by the evil queen who started the rumor that Maleficent was evil.

As per usual, it isn’t the magical side of things that is the evil. It is the human side. The same human side who says don’t judge a book by its cover, but then does so.

When will we heed our own advice? That adage was stated for a reason and yet so many people choose to ignore it and judge just about everyone and everything.

The saddest part is not only that others are usually hurt in the process but that the person passing judgment is missing out on truly remarkable things.

The story of Maleficent that Disney portrayed painted a once evil sorceress as a mother, a protector of the earth and magical creatures and someone who would fight for her family at all costs.

How exactly is she the evil one when it was her counterpart the Queen, mother of Aurora’s fiancé who sought to destroy and eradicate the world of the other creatures who were not human? Someone who murdered fairies cursed her own husband and put her son in danger . . . and yet that side would never be known if someone doesn’t watch the film or read the book but instead refuses to see or read it because of the rumor and because of the title.

The problem with judging a book by its cover goes beyond just missing out or continuing to spread lies and false rumors to others before you even know the whole story. The problem keeps you locked inside, closed off from a wonderful world and from wonderful people.

I personally am tired of history repeating itself. Tired of humans not learning from their mistakes; taking someone else’s word for it instead of educating and finding out for yourself.

Tradition is important, yes. But blindly following is not the same thing.

How many times in history were a people persecuted for what they believed? I found the Disney movie disturbing only in the fact that it was conveying a truth. A truth that has existed in our own history.

There was no difference between the Queen and Hitler in my opinion. And Maleficent was simply there defending and protecting those who were different.

But again it all comes back to perspective.

I’m sure there are some who could watch the film and would argue with me and still see Maleficent and her actions as evil.

Some might even have sided with the Queen. Which, in my humble opinion, is an incredibly frightening thought. But I am not so naive to think otherwise.

That, in a strange way, is the beauty of it. Yin and Yang. Good and Evil. Right and Wrong.

This will forever be a part of our world. You cannot have one without the other.

Acceptance. Rejection. Hatred. Love.

There is no way to exist without all sides of the coin. Whichever coin you side with is your choice.

How you make that choice is also your choice.

The only thing that I wish would change is that people would be informed before they make that choice.

Judging a book by its cover does no one any justice. Read the book. Then have a judgment. Regardless of what that judgment is, at least it will be based on something you put actual thought into.

Maleficent fell in love with a human. That human betrayed her by drugging her and removing her wings in order to become King.

He took the one thing that meant the most to her away in order to have power . . . but she is regarded as evil because she retaliated. I have never heard anyone say that Stefan was the evil one and yet he was the one that started it all.

After Maleficent cursed Aurora with the sleeping curse, she ended up being the one who raised Aurora, fell in love with her “Beastie” and was the one who broke the curse with her own kiss.

As the second movie started it says that despite all of this, rumors continued that she was an evil sorceress and the people believed it. The Queen was the one spreading the rumors and was the true evil.

None of the facts and the true story can be known if you’ve already placed judgment on Maleficent based on the same rumors the fictitious Queen spread.

Keep an open mind. Always.

Your friend,

Kat
nurturingyourbody.com