Lion in Winter as Seen Through Nicholas Stinnet's Traits of a Strong Family

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The Plantagenet family, as portrayed in Goldman’s The Lion in Winter, would usually not be considered a strong family. However, based on their success as the ruling family in England, it could also be called a very strong family. While to most the family seems dysfunctional at first, the family is actually perfectly adapted to achieving its goal of continued rule over England due to their retention of Stinnet’s traits for strong families, however warped they might seem. Nicholas Stinnet’s first trait of strong families is appreciation. While this characteristic does not fit in the usual sense of the word, appreciation can also mean the respect of one’s skills or abilities. While the family members do not act particularly grateful for each other, the do realize and respect each other’s talents. They appreciate each other enough that It is by using this appreciation to work around each other’s abilities that the family learns how to manipulate others and become the dominant dynasty that ruled England for so many years. Another important trait of strong families according to Stinnet is spending time together. While it does not seem like the family enjoys spending time with each other, in many ways they do. King Henry makes sure that the whole family gets together at least once a year for Christmas. Even though Eleanor has raised armies against him, he still allows her time out of her prison to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the family. This holiday gives Henry and Eleanor some quality family time to teach their sons how to argue, a past time that this manipulative family highly enjoys. Not only does this cover family time but also Stinnet’s trait of good communication. During the Christmas season, the Plantagenet’s spend time together and communicate, whether by talking or more likely by arguing. Yet another of Stinnet’s traits of strong families is a
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