The Princess Bride is written to satire traditional fantasy and fairy-tales. William Goldman presents his satire by creating an exaggerated story based on traditional fairy tales and fantasy. The superhuman characters of Westley, Inigo, Fezzik, and Vizzini created to put the story on a grand scale. Each of these characters posses powers that normal people do not have. With these characters for the story to revolve around, a story is created. Goldman creates the classic fairy-tale theme of the battle between good and evil and hero versus villain.
             At the beginning of the book, the story's villain is Vizzini or Westley depending on how one looks at it. Vizzini is the villain because he kidnaps Princess Buttercup. Traditionally, the princess is the universal representation of all that is good and pure in the world. Westley is also the villain because as the story follows Vizzini, Fezzik and Inigo getting away with the princess, Westley is portrayed as the bad guy. Goldman uses the fear and anticipation that Fezzik, Vizzini, and Inigo have about "the man in black" to portray him as bad. In the mind of Vizzini, Fezzik, and Inigo, this is true. Westley is the bad guy because he wants to kill them or foil their plan to kidnap Princess Buttercup.
             The magnitude of the powers that the main characters posses (Vizzini, Fezzik, Inigo, and Westley) is shown when the characters are confronted by Westley. Fezzik's test of strength comes when he rapidly scales the cliffs of insanity while carrying three other people. Westley's abilities are introduced when he climbs the Cliffs of Insanity without a rope. Upon reaching the top of the Cliffs of Insanity, Westley and Inigo engage in a duel between fencing wizards. Westley bests Inigo at his own game but not without Inigo proving his flawless skill with a rapier. Vizzini's powers are of intelligence and foresight. Westley wins a battle of cunning with Vizzini...