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My interpretation of Rey Skywalker & The Heroine’s Journey.
Sure she fits the Hero’s Journey, but shes on a full fledged Heroine’s Journey as well, maybe just not as clear as Katniss or Merida from Brave.
You may disagree and that’s cool! Interpretations are fun.
A Thread:
Sure she fits the Hero’s Journey, but shes on a full fledged Heroine’s Journey as well, maybe just not as clear as Katniss or Merida from Brave.
You may disagree and that’s cool! Interpretations are fun.
A Thread:
Preface:
Joseph Campbell said women didnt need to make the Heros Journey bc “all she has to do is to realise that she’s the place that people are trying to get to”— quite dismissive of the feminine struggle. So I dont think Rey’s struggle with identity was resolved in TLJ...
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Joseph Campbell said women didnt need to make the Heros Journey bc “all she has to do is to realise that she’s the place that people are trying to get to”— quite dismissive of the feminine struggle. So I dont think Rey’s struggle with identity was resolved in TLJ...
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Maureen Murdock’s Heroines Journey is not w/out fault, but it does delve further than Campbell.
Btw, I’m not even touching on the fact that both Journeys are dated by limits of gender construct and SW will be good to incorporate fluidity or abandon them.
So let’s begin.
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Btw, I’m not even touching on the fact that both Journeys are dated by limits of gender construct and SW will be good to incorporate fluidity or abandon them.
So let’s begin.
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1. Rejection of the Feminine
Tho I feel Rey doesnt REJECT the feminine per se, I see the “stop taking my hand” reaction to Finn and having a “traditionally male role” of junker/fighter/survivalist/pilot as representing rejection of “traditionally feminine roles”.
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Tho I feel Rey doesnt REJECT the feminine per se, I see the “stop taking my hand” reaction to Finn and having a “traditionally male role” of junker/fighter/survivalist/pilot as representing rejection of “traditionally feminine roles”.
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2. Identfication w/Masculine
Rey embraced the masculine with Han, Luke, and Ben. I lean toward more father figure with Han, and mentor with Luke, but they could easily switch at times. Ultimately I interpret her connection to Ben as a parallel identification with masculine.
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Rey embraced the masculine with Han, Luke, and Ben. I lean toward more father figure with Han, and mentor with Luke, but they could easily switch at times. Ultimately I interpret her connection to Ben as a parallel identification with masculine.
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3. Road of Trials
Rey’s becoming aware of the Force awakening inside her. Her awareness puts her in survival mode and she starts to hone her use of the Force. From seeing inside Kylo’s head, forcing the guard to release her, to winning the duel against Kylo on Starkiller.
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Rey’s becoming aware of the Force awakening inside her. Her awareness puts her in survival mode and she starts to hone her use of the Force. From seeing inside Kylo’s head, forcing the guard to release her, to winning the duel against Kylo on Starkiller.
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3. Road of Trials (cont.)
Her lessons with Luke broaden her mind & perception of the force, causing her to look deep inside herself. She finds only more questions and darkness. Existential dread about finding her place and wanting to see her parents.
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Her lessons with Luke broaden her mind & perception of the force, causing her to look deep inside herself. She finds only more questions and darkness. Existential dread about finding her place and wanting to see her parents.
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4. Illusion of Success
Rey is unable to convince Luke to help. Because of this, her disillusionment with him & his myth grows as she learns of his darkness. She tries the stubborn but earnest approach (much like Luke in ESB to not listen and save his friends) to save Kylo.
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Rey is unable to convince Luke to help. Because of this, her disillusionment with him & his myth grows as she learns of his darkness. She tries the stubborn but earnest approach (much like Luke in ESB to not listen and save his friends) to save Kylo.
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5. Spiritual Aridity
Through her isolation in the cave she begins the search for herself. Her connection to Ben is interrupted when he feeds her the “filthy junk traders” and “youre nobody” lines, furthering her isolation and realizing her fears. She then begins the Descent.
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Through her isolation in the cave she begins the search for herself. Her connection to Ben is interrupted when he feeds her the “filthy junk traders” and “youre nobody” lines, furthering her isolation and realizing her fears. She then begins the Descent.
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6. Descent to The Goddess
Rey’s failures w/the masculine, inability to save Ben & disillusionment with Luke, leave her in a dark place. She seeks the feminine in Leia, who I interpret as The Goddess.
“How do we build a rebellion from this?”
“We have everything we need.”
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Rey’s failures w/the masculine, inability to save Ben & disillusionment with Luke, leave her in a dark place. She seeks the feminine in Leia, who I interpret as The Goddess.
“How do we build a rebellion from this?”
“We have everything we need.”
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7. Reconnect with the Feminine
This stage is on full display after we see her descent to The Goddess.
Leia, is now her mentor.
There is no conflict or struggle with The Goddess, and she genuinely seems proud to call Leia “master”.
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This stage is on full display after we see her descent to The Goddess.
Leia, is now her mentor.
There is no conflict or struggle with The Goddess, and she genuinely seems proud to call Leia “master”.
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7. Reconnect with the Feminine (cont.)
As Leia pleads with Rey not to go on the hunt for the Sith Wayfinder, Rey does so agains Leia’s wishes. She allows herself to be motivated by her integrity, a virtue she feels would make Leia proud as well.
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As Leia pleads with Rey not to go on the hunt for the Sith Wayfinder, Rey does so agains Leia’s wishes. She allows herself to be motivated by her integrity, a virtue she feels would make Leia proud as well.
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7. Reconnect with the Feminine (cont.)
Leia tells Rey to never be afraid of who she is. Not where she comes from, or who shes related to, but who she is. I feel this connection comes from Leia’s own struggle of the galaxy holding her to her father’s darkness.
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Leia tells Rey to never be afraid of who she is. Not where she comes from, or who shes related to, but who she is. I feel this connection comes from Leia’s own struggle of the galaxy holding her to her father’s darkness.
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8. Heal Mother/Daughter split
Rey’s abandonment as a child left Rey in a strange sort of denial that her parents would return. Ben told Rey her greatest fear: they didn’t love her. The healing begins when Rey sees the truth: her parents were killed trying to protect her.
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Rey’s abandonment as a child left Rey in a strange sort of denial that her parents would return. Ben told Rey her greatest fear: they didn’t love her. The healing begins when Rey sees the truth: her parents were killed trying to protect her.
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9. Heal the Wounded Masculine
I have several interpretations of this one.
This stage is seen as taking back negative projections on men or the masculine within her. One, which is probably the most literal, could be her healing Kylo/Ben.
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I have several interpretations of this one.
This stage is seen as taking back negative projections on men or the masculine within her. One, which is probably the most literal, could be her healing Kylo/Ben.
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9. Heal the Wounded Masculine (cont.)
Another interpretion could be her accepting Luke’s words of “some things are stronger than blood”, a lesson he, himself, learned, hence his description of Ben’s “mighty Skywalker blood” in TLJ, evolving into his words in TROS.
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Another interpretion could be her accepting Luke’s words of “some things are stronger than blood”, a lesson he, himself, learned, hence his description of Ben’s “mighty Skywalker blood” in TLJ, evolving into his words in TROS.
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9. Heal the Wounded Masculine (cont.)
But another could also be her refusal to hate Palpatine, reaffirmed by her deflection of his own hate—err I mean force lightning— back at him, thus causing him to be destroyed by his own hate. I mean force lightning.
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But another could also be her refusal to hate Palpatine, reaffirmed by her deflection of his own hate—err I mean force lightning— back at him, thus causing him to be destroyed by his own hate. I mean force lightning.
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10. The Union (final)
Rey realizes she doesnt need to escape who she is, nor be afraid of it. This is also known as integration of masculine & feminine, like Ben becoming one with her. But I also see it as accepting herself as she is, embracing the shadow within.
Balance.
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Rey realizes she doesnt need to escape who she is, nor be afraid of it. This is also known as integration of masculine & feminine, like Ben becoming one with her. But I also see it as accepting herself as she is, embracing the shadow within.
Balance.
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Rey’s journey is accepting and choosing who she is despite where she came from.
Longing for her place was her story, making it was her resolve.
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Longing for her place was her story, making it was her resolve.
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