Why I Am In Love with The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2012)

I love the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I've read all three of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo novels, seen all three Swedish films twice, and have recently seen the American version of the first film. I understand that the two American sequels are well on their way. I'll see them as well. All of the films are excellent, and I enjoyed them thoroughly.
There has already been a ton of discussion about the films' merits, defects, perspectives, intensity, violence, etc. I don't think I could add any meaningful insight to what has already been written. So, I will do what I do best and not even try.
With the exception of my second ex-wife, I like women. I enjoy being around them. Despite my two divorces, I prefer long term relationships, although I do fantasize about 20 year sexpots. Those fantasies are laughable considering my three heart attacks, but I have them nonetheless. I say this just so you know where I'm coming from in terms of women.
I have always found women who think on their own very attractive. There is no question that the character, Lisbeth Salander, thinks, speaks, and more often doesn't speak, without reservation. Because I would like this essay to be published, I won't repeat the wording of one of her t-shirts in the American version of the film. Suffice it to say it uses the f-word a lot. That's how she is, take it or leave it.
As you have probably heard or read by now, Lisbeth suffers a particularly grotesque rape. She is indeed a victim, but she is not victimized. She gets even, simply. My God, does she get even. But her revenge is so straight forward and business-like that she would make Michael Corleone proud. She does not expend much energy feeling sorry for herself, even though she is more than justified to do so, considering what she endured.
Indeed, to paraphrase William Faulkner, Lisbeth Salander does not merely endure, she prevails. Her life is ultimately better emotionally and financially after her rape than before it as a direct result of what she elects to do. Her revenge is well designed, well planned, and brilliantly executed. And as you will see in the future movies, Lisbeth is not at all selfish for whom she seeks revenge.
And yet Lisbeth doesn't gloat. Or complain. Rather, she is and she does. Period. I wish I could be like that. Take a look at what she does when she is attacked by some street thugs. They sure won't attack her anymore. And, after a fleeting moment of angst because her beloved computer is ruined in the violent assault, she immediately get back on track and does what she has to do to get a new computer.
Lisbeth Salander is courageous. Consider what she does in Martin's basement when she rescues Michael (Blomqvist, not Corleone.) I also very much appreciate what she didn't do when Martin crashed his SUV. And she certainly isn't afraid to initiate sex, as evidenced by what she does with Michael and with Miriam Wu.
There is no question that Lisbeth is intelligent. In fact, she is a genius. She analyzes as well as processes information instantly. It's one thing to have a photographic memory, which Ms. Salander clearly has. It's quite another to be able to decipher, collate and correlate information precisely, and that is exactly what this young woman can and does do. She is extremely organized in a disheveled sort of way.
As anti-social as Lisbeth appears to be (but really isn't, in my opinion), she is loyal to those she loves. Consider her relationship with her original guardian, Palmgren, or her mother, or for that matter, Michael.
Incidentally, I've read that the character Lisbeth Salander is based on what the novels' author, Stieg Larrson, thought an adult Pippi Longstocking would be like.
For all these reasons I love Lisbeth Salander.
Plus she looks great in black.