Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Popeye & Olivia: opposites attract

Popeye the Sailor is a fictional hero notable for appearing in comic strips and animated films as well as numerous television shows. He was created by Elzie Crisler Segar, and first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929. Olive Oyl is actually older than Popeye, she appeared in the comic strip Thimble Theatre since  1919. The strip was later renamed Popeye after the sailor character that became the most popular member of the cast; however Olive Oyl was a main character for 10 years before Popeye's 1929 appearance.

In the films and later television cartoons, Olive Oyl is Popeye's girlfriend, although she could be extremely fickle, depending on who could woo her the best or had the flashier possessions, and was prone to get angry over the tiniest things. She constantly gets kidnapped by Bluto(aka Brutus), who is Popeye's archrival for her affections, but Popeye always rescues her, winning her affection in the end.


This particular couple exceptionally represents the fragility and the robustness, he is strong and brave and she is weak and always in distress. Physically they are also very different, he it short but muscular and she it tall and boney, but it their love for each other that keep this awkward couple together. 

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