If you consult the Oxford or Cambridge Dictionary, they will both say that the word “wild” is an adjective. Both definitions have nuanced meanings depending on the context in which the word is used. Either dictionary shows a binary where “wild” can be used to describe a condition of the natural without influence from others. On the other hand, it is a descriptive term akin to a lack of control. The nuances mentioned in the definition of the word also carry nuanced connotations in the way that it is being expressed.
Analogous to these dictionaries, the ever so fluid world around us continues to add more nuance to the world “wild.” When I asked my Korean grandmother about the word, her interpretation immediately fell to the idea of wild meaning: someone who is out of control– the ultimate antithesis to what it means to be a civilized person. My Abuelita agreed and reminded me that in life there are unspoken rules and those who go against them are the wild ones. My upbringing has had me arrive at my own definition in which “wild” is the ultimate definition of what it means to be free. The summation of living without the influence of others and the impulsivity of not always maintaining control has made me internalize the word again in a binary. I am drawn to the freedom of “wild” but also afraid to truly explore it on my own. Along with my generation, the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” trope and why so many authors use these portrayals of female characters to woo men fascinates me. Upon the greater reflection of what “wild” means, I have arrived at the conclusion that perhaps my nuanced interpretation of the freedom that comes with “wild” is admired by us all. The MPDG fascinates us because she lives freely, without control– perhaps we all wish to be more in touch with the nature of being wild.