It is truly hard to overstate the value that Princess Peach of the Super Mario games has added to society. She exemplifies some of the most hallmark traits of fashion, ethics, and sexuality, which have come to define our modern social sphere. And it is her multifaceted character that makes Princess Peach such an iconic and influential figure for the broader global community. Now to truly understand the Princess’ true significance, let’s take a deep dive into each of her contributions:
Fashion
In brief, Princess Peach has ushered in a renaissance for femme fashion culture, bringing back several key tropes of historic apparel. First and most notably is her signature pink dress, which with its flared body and shoulder cuffs is reminiscent of the French aristocracy under the influence of Marie Antoinette immediately pre-Revolution. However, after the Revolution, with its associated global impacts, clothing became more modest as a way for people to distance themselves from the tyranny of the upper class1. And while this shift most certainly served an important purpose at the time, the loss of French-inspired extravagance was a significant and unfortunate forfeiture for modernity. This loss stifled many of the creative aspects of the wildly popular French-inspired fashion design, thus minimizing many individuals’ ability for self-expression2. However, as Princess Peach rose in popularity, enabled by the incredible success of the Mario franchise, she reintroduced some of the regal aspects of fashion. In other words, her notoriety has allowed creative and expressive fashion to rise to a sense of social acceptance again. And it is this normalcy which gives many the comfort they need to dress how they want.
Ethics
In a world plagued by widespread hatred and a general lack of respect for one another, Princess Peach stands out as a model for an upstanding citizen. First is her treatment of service workers, who for her, are the Toads. Throughout the Mario franchise, Princess Peach shows grace to the Toads, constantly offering her gratitude while also providing them with a thriving kingdom to live in3. She consistently listens to their advice without complaint, and she ruthlessly defends their physical health and dignity from villains like Bowser and Donkey Kong. Compare that to the way that service people are treated in real life, and her upstanding nature becomes overwhelmingly apparent. Consider the rise of the Karens, who consistently make media headlines for their blatant disrespect for service people. But the headlines only scratch the surface of the egregious suffering service people endure, as it is really not hard to see instances of consumer aggression on a daily basis, such as in restaurants and retail stores. And it is this ubiquity which makes Princess Peach so important, since her position as a cultural figure allows her to reach a broader audience, specifically of young people, who can help break the cycle of hate at the root.
Sexuality
In a rather fascinating twist of fate, Princess Peach is also widely considered an icon of queer culture, making her an emblem of much of the sexual/gender-related progress in recent years4. Consider first the nostalgia she harbors, specifically for gay men like myself. And while I cannot speak to the population of gay men as a whole, there seems to be a fairly firm consensus that Princess Peach played an important role in all of our lives. The role is quite simple: Princess Peach was a virtual/video game outlet for us as gay men to express our femininity, without fear of being judged for it in real life. In other words, she could be what we wanted to be, even when we could not. Personally, I saw myself a lot in her, both in terms of overall look and her commitment to maintaining her feminine demeanor even in the face of ruthless masculinity from the likes of Bowser and even Mario. She embodied the persistence and fearlessness which I aspired to exhibit when confronted by those who felt disgusted or threatened by my sexual expression. And in an overall sense, her ability to be a rallying call of queer people demonstrates the breadth of her impact.
Considering these three impacts which Princess Peach has so gracefully executed, it should not be undeniable to any reader that she is so much more than a damsel in distress. She is a powerful symbol of self-expression and morality, underscored by a sense of ferocity rivaled only by the most courageous and selfless of us. So the next time you think of the Princess, remember that even though she is in another castle, her influence transcends all divides.
(2) https://www.culture.gouv.fr/en/Thematic/Mode/Fashion-in-France
(3) https://mariowiki.com/Princess_Peach
(4) https://splinternews.com/why-mario-karts-princess-peach-is-a-queer-icon-1793854365
Hey Will,
I have to say, I really enjoyed reading your post here. While I’ve never really interacted or connected with Princess Peach throughout my childhood, your analysis certainly did highlight many of her positive qualities.
Personally, I felt that your point on femininity and the struggle between the overarching masculinity of the villains Browser was a really powerful point. I can see why Princess Peach did become a safe space for queer people to truly express themselves without any criticism and judgment. While being a straight male myself, I can understand why it is important for queer people to find and connect with such symbols in their childhood – our society still has much progress to make for LGBTQIA+ rights, and it still is a taboo in certain regions of the nation. Thus, being able to express it through other conduits is important for one’s mental health and development throughout childhood.
I realize that my understanding of Princess Peach’s meaning and symbol in society is far dwarfed by yours, which is magnitudes larger. Thus, I’d be open if you would like to criticize or point out any statements I have made that are not representative or accurate.
Have a great week!
Kai Liu
Hi Will! I loved how you dissected what might seem a meaningless aspect of popular culture to some into an analysis about how society approaches these topics of fashion, ethics, and sexuality. It is clear that you have a deep understanding of not only how Princess Peach plays into the world of Mario Kart and gaming but also as an inspiration to others to continue to express themselves and stay true to their femininity. I also appreciated how you weaved cultural aspects of different time periods into your blog, from mentioning how fashion standards changed with the French Revolution to the current service industry plagued by “Karens”. I have never considered myself a Mario -or Princess Peach- fanatic, but your blog was very thought-provoking and makes me wonder about how the characters I loved and I chose growing up have served as role models for me and others.
Thank you for enlightening me on Princess Peach. You covered three aspects of her impact: Fashion, Ethics, and Sexuality. You brought insight into the character and the roles she played in both your life and others. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I enjoyed reading this.