Those 2 situations aren’t really comparable. Yuri was aware that her story was repeating over and over and she accepted it until the story stopped going as it was supposed to. Helena can’t really do anything to change how things are going. She can’t defy the prince and his mother, and if she does then they will take it out on the people around her, who already feel wary of her.
Yuri was a duke's daughter and she's a palace maid. You see the difference now? And why Yuri can do that and she can't?
To those who disagree with my comparison, I wanted to respond because I do see that my comparison was flawed and I want to further explain my point. Lol, I'm not in any way trying to argue or fight. I just want to better explain my opinion.
I understand those two ladies have different situations HOWEVER, I prefer Yuri's character development as someone who has possessive and yandere male leads around her. Yes, while having more freedom compared to a fallen noble/maid, she was held down by the fact that she knew she was trapped in a story. Both these women were trapped in their own circumstances. YET, Yuri rebelled. She knew she was trapped and her life would restart if she "messed" up the storyline. But she continued to rebel; Yuri rebelled against her known circumstances and the consequences. YET, this story doesn't provide that development. This story lacks any sort of... personality for her character. She's not rebeling, she's not reacting, she's not doing anything. If anything, her kindness and "saint" like personality makes her robotic and inhuman. I'm not saying she isn't humane or kind but I'm saying she doesn't feel human so I don't feel any human empathy for her. Yuri is likable because of her spunk. This character... doesn't have any redeeming qualities about her (for my liking). I'm not hating on her or this story, but as a character, she's too flat for me to care about her. The only emotion I feel about her is frustration.
Additionally, I dislike this character for her fragility. It's understandable. I'm not hating on her nor her decision because it is understandable. Yet, her fragility and "saint" like personality is what is frustrating about her character. Her fragility and "saint" like personality is what is causing her to "protect" the people around her but at the same time, it is exactly what is making EVERYONE around her seem evil in comparison (to her male leads). When someone has privileges, they have many choice but generally, their choices fall under two categories: am I going to sit back and allow myself to reap the benefits (even if I have my own personal problems) or am I going to use my privileges to actually help people? And her fear and fragility is what is making her choose the first option because she thinks that will help people. But it's not. The reason people are wary is because she's not willing to take a stand. The reason people are wary is because they know she's not going to help them in an actual fruitful way. This is an extreme example but if there are a group of kidnapped people and this girl was chosen to "help" the kidnapper, obviously she has no choice because complying will keep everyone safe (for now) but is that going to change the fact that they are all still kidnapped? She's only keeping them safe for now. In the other maids' perspective, she's the only one reaping the benefits because even if she weren't here, nothing would change for them. It is for her own self-satisfaction that she is complying to the prince. I don't care that she was trying to help in her own way. At the end of the day, she's doing more harm than help.
Additionally, I also really dislike her because she's NOT an agent to HER OWN destiny. None of her decisions are actually helping anyone, nor are they pushing her own life forward. She's stuck in a vicious cycle and she's unwilling to create any sort of wave that can develop her own life. She has the victim mentality, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE, but as a character, I find her irritating. And knowing people like her in real life, I find her personality to be more harmful than helpful.
Sorry, I'm not trying to preach. I am just trying to explain myself. I understand why she's trying to live the way she is, but I can't help but just dislike her because she's too idealistic. She's portrayed as a woman who is unflawed and kind but she is also a really flat character... I can't empathize with her (similar to how people dislike Disney princess-esque characters because they live in their own idealistic and pretty bubbles). Unfortunately, I can't seem to like her YET. I'm not denying her pain or experiences but I find that this backstory on her was... a bit useless if their goal was trying to make me empathize with her. For me (I'm not speaking for others), this sobstory was... ineffective.
But thank you for those who disagreed because you helped me in articulating my point and how the comparison was flawed. Also, thanks to those who have read this far lol
This story has barely even started. We're just in chapter 24. And the author just saw us Helena's backstory. Her mother constantly telling her to stop expressing her feelings and pretending to be naive so that she can get everyone's love obviously affected her a lot. Her development hasn’t even begun. You're just hating on her and not even understanding the situation she is in
And Yuri decided to rebel against the male leads solely because Melissa was there to help her and come to her aid. But in this story, Elise has been nothing but mean to her. So expecting her to rebel on her own when she was taught those fucked up morals since childhood and no one is there to actually help her is too much
isn't that exactly what her backstory explains though? she CAN'T speak out, she was taught to always, always act like an idiot and feign ignorance in order to survive. she prob has some self esteem issues or a messed up mind due to her mom. she even thought it was okay for her own mother to scar her face when she was A CHILD. anyways, we can't be impatient with the character development lol <3 yuri is amazing, yes, but she had far more choices nd chances than helena ever had or will. one thing is that yuri is loved by everyone she meets (the heroine role) while helena is hated by her coworkers no matter what she does, and people have diff emotional levels. although someone may not care about people's opinions, others would go through lenghts to make sure everyone is okay with them.
Lol, thanks for everyone disagreeing in a CIVIL manner. Bwahahahaha you never know with online commenting. It's nice to see those disagreeing with me because it's always great to see a variety of opinions. Lol, I know I'm hating on her for no legit reason and I know I need to give her more time for character development. But... I still dislike her. I can't explain it; I think it has to do with my preferences of characters (I just, by heart, don't care too much for idealistic female characters... its weird, I know!) Lol, I mean, I know that the author is trying to make us empathize and they are trying to develop her character but... I still find it ineffective (as of now!). Obviously, I like the story enough to have continued reading this far and to comment with a tedtalk of my opinion lol. I am ready for her development but... with only this recent chapter, I still can't bring myself to like her. However, I see all your points and I'm looking forward to when I can actually feel good about her character!
Thank you for understanding
Yeah, I still can't bring myself to like her. She's not like Yuri from Beware of the Villainess. Yuri also felt trapped and possessed by the "male leads" but Yuri tried to change. She tried to rebel. She strived to make her own future and carve her own story. But this girl? I don't like it that she plays victim and isn't doing anything to TRULY help anyone. I don't know. Maybe my dislike of her is unwarranted but her character is too fragile and shallow for me to feel any empathy for her.