Author: Ali Smith Pages: 164 Publisher: Canongate
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‘Nobody grows up mythless,’ Robin says. ‘It’s what we do with the myths when we grow up that matters.’
A modern day re-interpretation of the myth of Iphis by Ovid, Girl Meets Boy is Ali Smith’s 2007 contribution to the Canongate Myth Series. Like all in the series, Smith’s addition is relatively short, but packed with intention and triggers for incredible worldly insights. In fact, the length of these novellas is quickly becoming one of my favourite aspect of this series, as it allows me to think more deeply about the way the myth is being retold and how the story relates to our current situations.
The original myth Smith chose tells of Iphis, who was born a girl but has to pretend to be a boy under the threat of her father having stated that he will kill any daughter he has. But as Iphis grows older and falls in love with her best friend Ianthe, the daughter of a neighbouring lord, and their wedding is planned, she grows fearful that her secret will be found out. Iphis prays to the Gods to help her and eventually they do turning her into a boy, and Iphis is able to live happily every after with his bride.
Smith takes this story and weaves it into a novella about two young women, Anthea and Robin, who fall in love, and Anthea’s sister Imogen, who learns to fall in love with herself. The myth almost seems contrary to the concept of accepting oneself, and at times a little confusing in the novella, but I think this is precisely why Smith chose Iphis.
Without giving away any spoilers, Smith is able to tell a story that deals heavily with society’s fear of not fitting in, and the (often) more female fear of not being taken seriously. While idealism and love are present in abundance in the story, cynicism and fear also appear. Fear causing one to remain silent when they should have spoken up. Smith creates an escape from a misogynistic and amoral world that simultaneously confronts the world of its misgivings, which is the real draw of the novella.
On the topic of relationships, Smith masterfully crafts a relationship that is built because of, and in spite of, the sex of the individuals. Moreover, she demonstrates how relationships and love (both of oneself and for others) cannot flourish without figuring out what it is that one believes in. The sentiment of belief is so beautifully translated in the story as being a core component that brings people together.
Being an unapologetically opinionated person, it is important to me that I share beliefs with the people I love and care about. So, it was such a pleasure to see a novella is as much political as it is romantic, which to me was incredibly important, especially in our political and social climate.
However, from all of this, it was the re-occurrence of stories of love in different forms, and the transformations of many kinds be it spiritual, emotional or physical, that led me to the most important (in my opinion) insight.
Smith almost seems to be telling us that these stories are not new, but that regardless, they are emotional, fantastical and important. That the escape we seek from the miseries and tragedies of the world do not come from stepping away from the political or the contentious. Rather, by accepting them and confronting them, we are able to find ourselves in others, bringing people together.
So perhaps, it is wholly romantic and fantastical story, and tied in a bow a little too neatly for my liking. But it is also undeniably real and I cannot recommend it more.
~S~
