The Rose of Versailles; Revolutionizing Portrayals

 

 “This manga was one of the selected few that went headfirst against the erasure of women, which I looked up to a lot“ claims a Japanese woman. A specific manga series captured the hearts of many Japanese Millennial and Generation X women, particularly through its compelling storytelling and weavings of universal themes: Rose of Versailles, or ベルサイユのバラ,  which was in production from 1972 to 1973, was written and illustrated by Riyoko Ikeda. She sold over 23 million copies worldwide and had multiple adaptations of movies and musicals. The story follows Oscar Jarjayes, a woman brought up as a boy due to her father’s unwavering desire to raise a son, on her journey of being a royal guard for Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France. As the plot progresses, the readers can find themselves immersed in the turmoil and pandemonium of the French Revolution. Over 50 years have passed since its release, yet Rose of Versailles, which boldly challenged 70’s social norms by eliciting the “inner-revolutionary” of many women and by including social minorities, continues to impact individuals even today.

 

Feminism through Characters

   The series was particularly significant to female readers because the Rose of Versailles, which, unlike other manga series in 1970s Japan, embraced feminism. Influenced by the contemporary Western feminist movement, feminist movements had hit the country along with numerous anti-war protests. This movement, named Ūman Ribu (Woman Liberation), focused primarily on advocating for women’s socio-political rights, questioning the “traditional gender roles of women”. Ikeda, who was also a part of the movement, was inspired and incorporated the feminist ideology into the Rose of Versailles. Female characters in Japanese mangas of this time were often delicate and fit the stereotypical “damsel in distress” archetype to attract the male protagonist and audience. On the contrary, Ikeda’s work featured strong-willed and valiant female leads as the manga's focus.

 

  All characters, who were written with compelling narratives, appealed to the readers as they were three-dimensional, thought-provoking, and relatable. To name one, the protagonist, Oscar, portrays the ideal model of female independence. Raised as a son by her father and caretaker maid, Oscar embodies an independent and ambitious young individual who grows up to become a royal soldier. In countless scenes, the illustrator portrays Oscar as a hero who rescues those in danger or persecutes antagonists, depicting her as a steadfast upholder of egalitarian justice. On the 16th of November, I interviewed Y.N., who grew up in the 1980s and '90s reading the series at a young age. “While reading [The Rose of Versailles] years ago, I really admired Oscar’s courage to step out of her comfort zone in complicated situations. I think it was what made it so popular amongst women,” she states. “It was her determination to resolve complicated matters that inspired me to do the same with things I was struggling with at that time.” Ikeda’s powerful portrayal of women is not limited to the protagonists, as female antagonists are also brought to life. Duchess Polignac, who was a complex historical figure during the French Revolution, had a graceful personality but also simultaneously possessed calculating and self-serving traits that took away the need for a male figure to strengthen her characteristics. As these two examples suggest, The Rose of Versailles’s portrayal of empowered female characters encouraged many female readers to confront traditional gender roles and relate deeply to their experiences as women.  

 The protagonist Oscar Jarjayes animated by TMS Entertainment in 1979

 

Inclusion against Controversy

   In addition to feminism, the inclusion of marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community and depictions of class struggles were also crucial aspects in raising The Rose of Versailles to its significance today. According to research at the University of Wollongong, although homosexuality has been present in Japan since ancient times, especially seen during the Edo period, homophobia recently paved its way into Japanese society with the infusion of Western religious and legal influence during the Meiji era (1857-1912). As a result, while sexual minorities are not openly bashed or assaulted in public, they are not fully accepted by both the Japanese society and the government. The discrimination against sexual minorities is perpetuated, as the government’s failure to legalize same-sex marriage shows.

 

 Amidst the controversy of the sexual minority community, Ikeda embraced the marginalized group in the manga by painting characters with sexual identities. As Oscar Jarjayes goes through an identity crisis, her femininity, and her masculinity due to her upbringing clash. Eventually, Oscar confronts gender nonconforming issues to acknowledge and understand who she fully is. Gender nonconforming is when an individual does not adhere to the society’s gender norms. Hence, her struggles in unearthing her identity shed light on the often untouched and controversial topics of the minority group. For another example, Rosalie, a crucial side character of the story, reflects Ikeda’s inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. Rescued and trained by the protagonist, she forms a romantic admiration towards Oscar and ultimately daydreams of being together with Oscar. However, both being women during the 18th century, she feels conflicted with her emotions and wishes for Oscar to be a man instead. Although at the finale of the manga, she marries a man named Bernard, the inclusion of a bisexual character broke the negative stereotype of queer individuals to many readers. 

 

 Moreover, the gap between social classes was portrayed with great storytelling and emotional appeal to the audience. As heavy topics are rarely covered in Shoujo mangas, the author sets forth excellent insights into the struggles. One way in which she showed this was the juxtaposition of the quality of life between the rich nobles and the poor shop owners of France. Throughout the story, high-ranked characters such as royalties and politicians enjoy leisure time— eating luxury foods and participating in balls at the Palace de Versailles—, while the lower are on the brink of death from starvation and scarce clothes. Such inclusion of themes that were previously unexplored created an informative and comfortable space, thus making the Rose of Versailles especially significant to fans who relate to these experiences. “It kind of opened my eyes to how big the gap was between these social classes.” one fan states. “It was really stirring to see actual real-life problems depicted on screen.”

  Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022 with an exhibition in Roppongi Hills, The Rose of Versailles has had a significant impact on fans not only in Japan but across the globe. With adaptations by the all-female cast of Takarazuka Theater and a remake from MAPPA animation studio, it is pivotal to acknowledge this manga as a revolutionary sensation for many. Its notable impacts on society and relevance to the issues portrayed make it more than worth seeing in person, whether through manga or anime.

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 Rose of Versailles official productions:

-Takarazuka's production of The Rose of Versailles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxiIVFXk9No

-The Rose of Versailles, a 1979 movie directed by Jacques Demy: Lady Oscar (1979) Trailer