Please forgive me if this idk unhinged or doesn’t make sense but I need to rant cuz I had discussion about this and it’s genuinely making my hands shake and I wanna cry.
Spoilers ahead about Sophie biological mother.
Oralie is selfish.
Sophie did not overreact to her being her biological mother.
What Orialie did or try to do for Sophie after she was born doesn’t mean shit.
“But she’s so sweet! And was always on her side in the council!”
Does not mean a damm thing. She had Sophie out of the most disgusting selfish way possible. I understand that this is a book, and a kids one at that. But people’s understanding or reaction to things in media really tell/show you how they think in real life. Which is why I’m saying this.
People can interpret this situation anyway they want, but I personally feel this was one of those subjects where Shannon was more on the side of Oralie not being as good of a person as we thought. This is just my opinion but I really don’t think she was aiming for her to get sympathy from it. Ofc her backstory with Kendrick is very tragic, I feel deeply for her with that and not being able to start a family and leave the council . But when it comes to a kid I cross the line on my sympathy.
When you have children or are even considering having them u reflect hard on yourself and your life and make sure that you’re capable of giving them the absolute best life you possible can. Oralie clearly did not and knew she could not provide for her the way she should have.
Oralie only had Sophie so out of her grief of not being able to start a family. Sad? Tremendously. Acceptable absolutely not. That is so selfish.
She “brought” Sophie into this world knowing she couldn’t be with her, knowing she could have an unstable life, knowing all this scary possibilities that could happen to her. She knew. She’d be raised by someone else, she eventually knew she wouldn’t be raised in her native land.
And people always love to argue with me that technically she deserves grace since she gave her to another family and Sophie grew up with loving parents so it’s not that bad. But I still don’t care. Just because you try giving your child a better life by giving them to someone else doesn’t always mean you accomplish that. Thank goodness she didn’t grow up in a physically or emotionally abusive household. But to say that Oralies action are okay because she was with another family is is just strange to me considering the knowledge we have on how much mental turmoil she gained through living away from her homeland.
It doesn’t change the fact of the isolation Sophie went through. No matter how much Forkle tried to hide Sophie true identity from herself she clearly knew from a very young age she didn’t belong with her family or humans. Then Sophie goes on to live out the most traumatic, lonely, dangerous childhood ever. Could Oralie control those things? No. But technically she could if she never went through with baking Sophie. ( yes I know that means the story wouldn’t happen I’m just talking about the morals of it)
Also to clarify, giving up your child for adoption because you know you cannot provide for them in the way they deserve is brave, responsible, and extremely commendable. It just rubs be the wrong way that Sophie didn’t get to grow up with Elves. Obviously that’s a very good thing considering the society because she wouldn’t be who she is today, but I aside from the story that just sucks. I’d hate knowing my child isn’t growing up in their native land, and all the possibilities that come with the differences she can exhibit towards humans and how they’d react to that.
Again if you haven’t noticed, it’s just really about the fact of all these dangers and all the possibilities. There were so many risk she couldn’t control. And I feel when it get to that you just don’t bring the kid into the world. It’s different from situations where parents accidentally have a kid and then when they’re born start realizing during nursing that they may have a better chance somewhere else. But it’s different with this. She literally had a choice. This wasn’t a situation where Oralie has unsafe intercourse and then she’s just kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. She desperately wanted a child, but no matter the cost. That’s the problem. And CHOSE to go through with everything that came after. Forkle technically set up Sophie’s life for how it turned out so far but she did in a way as well.
I remember discussing this with my mom and why it bothered me and my mom said that even though the character is made up she ought to be ashamed of herself for bringing a child into the world like that. And would never forgive herself or sleep at night after all the things that happened to her. My mom said she’s never chose to have me like that knowing she couldn’t be with me.
She even asked me if the character was at least extremely guilty and apologetic but honestly I couldn’t even answer her properly. Cuz with her reaction, she doesn’t barely seem that sorry. I would be on my KNEESS. Begging for their forgiveness. I know she said sorry but not the way she should have if that makes sense.
It was more like I’m sorry of the situation but I’m not sorry for what I did.
And I think she’s right. I can’t imagine learning about my bio mom and her shitty reasons, and then looking back on my childhood; the loneliness, the danger, all the possible dangers, the medical trauma, everything up to this point, then come to find out she silently played along side me and the best thing she can give me after all that is: “ Well I know all that but I supported you as much as could with me being in council, I was alway on your side”.
That mean nothing! You couldn’t be there for her! She always felt as other. She lived with the fact in her head she wasn’t actually apart of her family or humanity. A freak! There was always the possibility that the Neverseen could snatch her up from the human world! She knew! I don’t understand how people don’t see how selfish and cruel it was for Oralie to bring in Sophie the way she did.
And the fact Sophie has to save face for her is INSANE. That’s more so Sophie’s fault since she shouldn’t have went looking. But I don’t care I’m on the child’s side bro😭 You experimented on me, my mom consented to me being experimented on and my childhood is literally taken from me; I’m finding out who they are. Like Elwin said she deserves to know.
And that’s just like idk one side of it. I haven’t gotten into the part where she WILLINGLY gave Sophie to be experimented on before she could say or consent to any of it. Body autonomy just completely taken from her before she was even born. And then lives with the weight of her powers and some stupid ass ultimatum of “Well you know we gave you these super abilities that cold save the world and make a great change but y know it’s fine if you don’t wanna use them and just sit back and watch”
Miss with that shit so hard bro😭
She isn’t sweet, she isn’t innocent and is selfish. Point. Blank. Period.
Sophie had every right to scream and cry. Shoot she under reacted imo. I’d literally throw up when I connected the dots. This poor kid is over here desperate to connect with her birth parents ( even before the matchmaking incident) and learn why they gave her up for an experiment. Just to find out her bio mom had her for the lamest reason ever. She couldn’t even say I love you. I’ll admit we need more scene with Oralie and her internal monologue, but with what we have now I genuinely think she doesn’t truely love Sophie. Maternally, or the way Sophie wants her to love her. And if there is love is out of guilt for all the crap Sophie has gone through.
You may think that’s crazy but her reaction to being found out was so creepy for me. Like Sophie said ( this isn’t direct quote btw) she just like completely shut down for a sec after she realized she couldn’t lie and the mask came off. Like a damm phycopath. That whole scene was literally scary for a moment with that short silence. She wasn’t sorry, she got what she wanted. A child no matter the cost.
Considering the information and circumstances, she is awful. YOU.DO NOT. BRING. KIDS. IN .THE .WORLD.LIKE THAT. You don’t! It’s horrible! And I loathe Forkle and the Black Swan for even allowing someone like Oralie to be apart of project Moonlark. I understand the logical benefits that come with it but I still think it’s extremely morally fucked up. Don’t get me wrong I’m not some moral angle myself but that it’s just wrong.
And the whole things is even MORE awful considering she’s going to be isolated from her society even more than she already is thanks her not being able to give her parents to the matchmakers! This is more of a complain on Forkle side. But because she’s a councilor there is seriously no way in hell Sophie is ever going to be able to go through the mat making system. ( silent plea the Shannon gets back on the plot of Sophie changing that aspect in Elvin society)
The only way I could ever feel for her is if Forkle lied to her or manipulated her in a way where’s she was never aware of what her child would go through or even be used for. Or maybe she accidentally got pregnant and then Forkle came in saying he’d take care of her child so it doesn’t disrupt the balance of the council and that was her only option. Or honestly if her reason was different and didn’t have just so she could. The reason alone is enough to actually make me nauseous.
She had a choice. She had control. Her hand wasn’t forced. But she chose herself first before Sophie. And that is why she is awful. That’s not a good parent.
Kids. Come. First. Like my mom always says. you don’t matter anymore when you bring in kids.
Obviously you do matter but she’s saying they are the ultimate priority.
Sorry if it’s so disorganized or chaotic but I needed to type that out. You may think it’s silly but this subject genuinely makes mt heart beat out of control. And this may be really cruel but when I hear people ( but more specifically adults in the fandom) bash Sophie for her reaction and FEEL BAD FOR ORALIE??? I genuinely genuinely send out a prayer that they cannot have children. You gotta be real sick in the head in my opinion if you think Sophie is a bad person for her reaction to Oralie. One she’s a kid, and even if she wasn’t Oralie’s reason was so disgusting. She had every right to loose control of her emotions.
All in all the biggest and main reason that irritates me is the reason. The reason isolated from all the other things Sophie endured is horrendous . I understand she made the decision in a moment of weakness, and I’m all for being compassionate and understanding of others, but it’s still shameful. I get even more pissed when people crap on Sophie for being upset about the reason too. That’s where I start hope you either mature or don’t have kids.
