The song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran is strife with gender roles. Although Tania Modleski typically discusses plots with the focus on the heroine and the author being a women. We can attempt to do the feminist reading of this song as well. The plot of “Perfect” is the same as “Love Story”, but told from the man’s point of view. He recounts falling in love with a girl at a younger age and how that all came to pass.
“Just kiss me slow” – A man commands the girl to kiss him. The feminist reading of these lyrics might be a critique of gender roles. The ordering man expects a subordinate women to perform physical acts of tenderness on him at this whims.
“When you said you looked a mess: I whispered underneath my breath” – The women is portrayed as requiring a man’s validation for their looks. The man responds and she is unequivocally happy. Relation to Harlequin Romances as Modleski states because the indifferent man confesses his love for her. The emotionally indifferent male expresses that she consumes his thoughts.
Multiple instances of the hero, past Ed, deifying the woman. “But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight”, “stronger than anyone I know”. All may be exemplifying the requirement for women that men validate them. This song is very positive towards women, but still perpetuates gender norms. Basically, these lyrics do the opposite of Tania Modleski’s conclusion. They appear to be feminist at first, but after closer examination serve to perpetuate toxic norms.