The Fair Jilt is the kind of story that plants seeds of fear for love and passion. It depicts this feeling as a flame that can both warm up and burn out. In spite of the fact that the author claims that the events described in the story are absolutely accurate, there are many people who contradict her. Unfortunately, we don’t know the truth and will never find it out, for those events are a part of the past that has been forgotten. However, the doubts about this story’s truthfulness are not really that important. The reason is that people are really capable of committing crimes, betraying, and lying for love or passion’s sake, so this story could really happen and will definitely happen in the future.
Miranda is the main character of the story and – quite reasonably – is the strongest one. She is an embodiment of passion, vanity, and petty interests. Miranda doesn’t know how to treat people equally, for her astonishing beauty and money convince this maiden in her own superiority. One might think that she is a horrible person, cruel and cunning. The truth is that she is unhappy one. Miranda doesn’t know how to love, can’t even imagine how beautiful and inspiring this feeling can be. She is too focused on herself to be able to love with everything she has. It is mentioned that she is going to realize what a monster she is. It is next to impossible to imagine how difficult it is. To accept an idea that she is the main reason of unhappiness of so many people and manage to start everything anew requires a lot of work and strengths. It is true that we don’t really know if Miranda changes her attitude or not – or if she is sincere – but we can definitely agree that it would be an impressive transformation. Unfortunately, Miranda’s repentance is not going to help those whose lives have been destroyed by her cunning and malice. It is a lesson for all of us. One has to think twice before starting to play with other people’s fates.
Henrick is Miranda’s opposite. Tenderness and kindness of his heart are worshiped by people. Unlike Miranda, he is blessed with an ability to love. In spite of the fact that a terrible loss of his beloved one wounds him deeply, leaving scars in his soul, he finds a new love and that is God.
The Fair Jilt is – undoubtedly – a must-read. First of all, Miranda’s story proves that love can’t be based on lies and violence. One can’t just make another person love him or her. Secondly, the Fair Jilt shows that it is never too late to repent. Miranda has made a lot of horrible mistakes and the majority of them can’t be corrected, but she can help other people, lend them a hand in the hour of need, and save them from repeating her mistakes. This short story, which has been published in the end of the 17th century, has not lost its relevance.
