ACOTAR-ACOFAS SPOILERS AHEAD
We all know Nesta as the selfish, distant, cruel, and cold eldest Archeron sister. Personally, I did not appreciate Nesta at first, but only recently I realized what a complex and amazing character she is.
In the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Nesta is introduced as the sister that does nothing to help her family in their time of need. Feyre did everything in the family from hunting to selling furs, and cooking. Both Elain (the middle sister) and their father were not much help either. We are told that Nesta's ulterior motive for doing as little as possible was to force her father to get out of his depression and support his family again. Her actions were fueled by hatred and disappointment. After their mother died, "the anger had been a lifeline, the cruelty a release. But she had cared-beneath it she had cared, and perhaps loved more fiercely than I could comphrehend, more deeply and loyally." After the events in Prythian, Feyre and Nesta became somewhat closer.
When Nesta and Elain are kidnapped in A Court of Mist and Fury and thrown into the Cauldron, Nesta being her bad bitch self, sticks up her middle finger to the King of Hybern with only her hand sticking out of the Cauldron while the rest of her is submerged.
In a Court of Frost and Starlight, Nesta closes herself off again. Personally, I believe her arc deviated a bit as she goes down a wrong path as a coping mechanism for the trauma she endured. It was sad to see her succumb to such a state, overwhelmed by the Cauldron's power. When the Inner Circle finally addresses her behavior, Feyre asks Nesta to leave Velaris. With nowhere to go, Cassian announces that she will accompany him to the Illyrian mountains.
Alright, enough of the synopsis, let's get to it.
Nesta is portrayed as irritable, guarded, and hot-headed, having built a shield over her emotions. Feyre believes that she sees and feels so much that she must protect her heart with the fiery anger she releases.
How come when a male character takes on the moody, selfish, strong demeanor it's considered hot? They are the anti-hero, always redeemable for their actions. Characters like Draco Malfoy, Loki, Tamlin, Rowan, Rhys, Darkling, Anakin Skywalker, and Will Herondale are all problematic and flawed. In reviews they are always described as dark, brooding, sexy, and intriguing. If we switch it around and have a female with these characteristics, she is (excuse my language,) bitchy, cold, unlikeable, hot-headed, ill-mannered, manipulative, and bratty.
Most male characters in this trope are introduced as broody, dark, etc., and later revealed to be the softy everyone loves. This almost always comes with some trauma and emotional baggage. Don't get me started on creepy Tamlin, and Rhys isn't excused either.
We cannot forget that Nesta was also traumatized as a child. She was the eldest child who lost her mother (we can rightfully assume she knew her the best), was suddenly thrown into poverty, and sexually assaulted. Neither Nesta, nor her sisters had any responsibility to go hunting or provide for the family while their father was right there. Nesta is not Feyre, we cannot blame a young teenage girl for being hesitant to go hunt in the woods.
Some may argue that all she needs is a redemption arc, but Nesta has proven herself over and over again.
She went after Feyre with a mercenary while still human, allowed the Inner Circle to hold the meeting with the Queens in her house (which led to her and Elain being attacked), she agreed to fix the wall and defend Feyre during the meeting with the High Lords despite suffering severe PTSD, she saved Cassain's life, carried buckets and tended to the wounded during the war, and SHE KILLED THE KING OF HYBERN. Did we just forget that???
Maas created a character that is cold, calculating, harsh, strong, yet fragile, heartbroken, fiery, and extraordinarily powerful ( we've barely scratched the surface of her new abilities!) Nesta is fleshed out and real. She experienced horrible things such as almost being r*ped, and her responses and coping mechanisms are completely understandable and realistic. She decides to get over her depression by succumbing to other methods, but in doing that, she's actually relatable and understood. She does not need to fit the standard of a likable strong female lead in order to be loved. Her complex emotions of anger, flames, and thorns show that she does what needs to be done in order to protect the ones she loves.
Nesta changed the dynamic of how women can be written in YA books. Her journey full of pain, disappointment, and wrongdoings give her hate and love.
I think Nesta has a lot more in store and definitely deserves to have her side of the story shown. I guess we'll just have to wait for A Court of Silver Flames.
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