Jasmine Anderson
12|1|13
Blog Entry 10
Literature and film can be very
important to us; it can bring a lot of significance to our everyday lives.
Literature and film can help us find our sense of self and can also inspire us
to take steps closer to our goals. It can motivate us to overcome our fairs and
get us through tough situations. Sometimes we can even use it as an escape from
everyday life and the problems that we face. Most importantly film and literature
“can help people better understand ourselves and others, and sometimes
contradictory, themes that shape their lives”(Pearson pmai) For example a film
such as “Stardust” directed Mathew Vaugh can help us understand what kind of
archetype we are or can help us transform into one that we are meant to be.
According to the text “What Story Are
You Living?” By Carol S Pearson and Hugh K Marr “Archetypes are psychological
structures reflected in symbols, images and themes common to all culture and
all time.”(Pearson 14). There are twelve archetypes that can help us find
ourselves and transform our world. (Innocent, orphan, Warrior, caregiver,
seeker, lover destroyer, creator, ruler, magician, sage, and jester.) Although
the potential characters within us are universal, each of us express them
differently, endowing them with somewhat different styles, traits, and
mannerisms. “The expression of an archetype will be influenced by a person’s
culture, setting, and time of history, but it will also be a manifestation of
his or her individuality.” (Pearson14). Knowing your archetype can help you reveal your most
important desires and goals. Literature and film can help can help you gain
access to unrealizable potential, grasp the logic and importance of your life,
and have greater empathy for others live.
In the film “Stardust” the main
character Tristan Thorn was a character that we can all relate to. In the
beginning of the film Thorn showed signs that he was a lover and innocent archetypal character but as the film
proceeded we witnessed his transformation. Early in the film Thorn is convinced
that he is in love with Victoria who shows no interest in him. At this period in time he is showing so many characteristics
of the lover archetype. According to Pearson the lover archetype is loving
toward others, romantic, intimate, and makes commitments. Thorn is so much of a
lover that he makes a commitment to Victoria that he would retrieve a star and
return it to her for her hand in marriage
According to Pearson an innocent archetypal character
is someone who develops trust, confidence, and takes on optimistic journeys. We
began to see his innocent archetype characteristic’s when he attempts to follow
through with the journey. Even getting out the English village of the wall was challenging.
A guard was posted at the break of the wall preventing him from crossing. Even
though the first step toward his goal was challenging he had very high
confidence in his self and refused to give up. We began to see his orphan archetype
character when we find out that he has never met his mother. His father reveals
to him that his mother is from the other side of the wall and gives him a Babylon
candle that she had left for him. “The archetypal character of the orphan can
be a child lacking the support of those who should help.”(Pearson 16). Although
we see him transforming he is still a lover. We see this when he lights the Babylon
candle to get to his mother and instead gets transported to a fallen star named
Yvaine because he could not get Victoria and the promise he had made to her off
his mind.
Later on in the film Thorn becomes a
seeker. The seeker archetype is someone who is willing to be different, and
having courage to try new things. He transforms into a seeker when he is on his
journey to bring Yvaine back To Victoria. When he leaves Yvaine chained to a
tree promising to return with food and water he comes back to a surprise.
Yvaine was gone, and Thorn had nowhere to turn he was lost and had no answers.
But he still wasn’t willing to give up. Magically a star (magician) whispered
to his warning him of Yvaines danger and begging him to save her. We see Tristan’s
courage when he saves Yvaine from a destroyer archetypal character name Lima.
Lima was an evil old witch of Stormhold along with her two sisters. She set a
trap for Yvaine because she wanted her heart so that her and her sister will be
able to restore their youth.
After he
saves her he becomes aware of the fact that the fallen star is not only useful
to him and the evil witch, but also to Septum’s who needed her to become king.
With this knowledge Tristan has to protect his self and Yvaine. This is where
we see him transform into a warrior. A warrior is someone who learns to
compete, set goals, and defend them self when necessary. Thorn meets a ship captain named captain Shakespeare
who was also a caregiver, who teaches him how to sword fight. The sword fighting came in handy along the journey
when he had to compete with Lima and septum to save Yvaine once again. The
warrior archetype was the most dominate of them all because he was truly a warrior all
along even if he didn’t see it.
In the end he finally meets his mother who was
actually Septum’s long lost sister. Since
Septum was killed Tristan became king. Thorn also found his true love. Can you
guess who she might be? None other than Yvaine. Going into the adventure he had
no idea that he would transform into his true archetype and find his true love.
In conclusion,
this kind of story can matter to you because it can bring lots of significance
to your everyday life. A story such as “Stardust” can help you find your true sense
of self. The many archetypes demonstrated in this film can help you to better
understand yourself and others. It can highly motivate you to overcome your
fairs and take steps closer to your own goals. A film like this can easily
remind you never to give up no matter what obstacles are in your way.
Work CitedCarol S. Pearson and Hugh K. Marr
"What Story are You Living?"
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