Deconstructing Duck Tales

Duck Tales’ 21st episode (season 1), Maid of The Myth, first broadcast in 1987. I am sure many people previously have written on Duck Tales. But as an ardent Duck Tales fan, consider this as my tribute to the show. The storyline of the 21st episode ‘Maid of The Myth’ is like this- opera singer Mrs. Beakley gets abducted by the Vikings from the Norse mythology, and Uncle Scrooge and the others rescue her. But the episode offers more than just being a rescue story.

‘Maid of The Myth’ starts with the attack of the Vikings by the sea that resonates with the theory that someone unknown will suddenly attack our world when we are unprepared. The attackers will attack us from nowhere and loot everything we have. They will not only take our wealth but will also take our prized possession- the heroines. In this episode, it is the opera singer Mrs. Beakely, the beacon of the rich world, the world from which billionaire Scrooge McDuck belongs.

The episode projects the Vikings as the beastly villains who not only loot but also have an eye for our women, portraying Vikings as a lustful, degraded animal. It is like messages from the rich to the middle class, look the enemy will not only loot your property but will also take your women. So better be ready. However, in the end, it is not the ordinary people who will take the mantle of saving our women. It will be rich people like Scrooge McDuck. It is the rich who always do the right things to rescue our icons.

In the episode, Uncle Scrooge and the others chase the Vikings and rescue Mrs. Beakely. However, at the Vikings’ island, Mrs. Beakely is being treated well by the Vikings compare to the people of the civilized world. It shows how differently the rich world projects someone as a villain. Mrs. Beakley’s astonishment showed that, in reality, they are not bad people.

The rescue operation was a funny affair. Uncle Scrooge’s help Launchpad asks for a manly fight with the Vikings to rescue Mrs. Beakely. It shows the love for the masculinity among the people from the rich world. It also seconds the idea that women need to be rescued by men when they (women) are in danger. The story becomes intricate when Launchpad develops an affinity towards a Viking girl. The girl helps Launchpad to prepare for the fight. This girl plays an important role. She assists Launchpad, jeopardizing her future, and ditches her clan. When Launchpad fails to show up, Mrs. Beakely participates in the race and saves the face of the civilized world. The race signifies a fight between the civilized and uncivilized world, and a woman wins it. It’s like a triumph of creativity and compassion over masculine power and strength.

However, in the end, the rich man, here Scrooge McDuck, forgets the importance of a woman. Scrooge completely ignores Mrs. Beakely at the meeting with the Vikings. Uncle Scrooge dictates the Vikings king to maintain a good relationship with the civilized world. Again it shows the toxic masculinity of the rich people to control everything.

This episode shows us how rich people manipulate everyone and dictates everything. Though Scrooge McDuck chases the Vikings to save Mrs. Beakely, he did that for a reason. He wanted to show the world that he is the undisputed king. This love for power keeps rich people busy. The episode also tells that how rich people bad at predicting the enemies. After all, it’s a girl from the enemy’s side who helped them to win the race and leave the place.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)