Disclaimer: *Author holds a deed to the ownership of Labyrinth*
*Author drops deed*
*Deed bounces.*
Get the hint? Oh, by the way, I don't own Spider Jerusalem or The Word, either.
Dedication: To all those who've suffered in dysfunctional relationships. Here is my most solemn chapter, for you. I feel your pain.
Author's note: Okay, 100% seriousness here. Flame away for the things I say, but it doesn't make them any less true. But don't until you've read chapter 6. . .
**********************************************************************************
Four days after she made the announcement, Rage sent the paper, which was formerly claimed to be written by Dr. Strangelove, to Spider Jerusalem for publication in The Word. The body of the paper was as follows:
"A Practical Treatise on Manipulative Relationships"
by Jaden Rage
Love does not always mean love. In fact, love is often misused to pervert relationships, to make people do things that they wouldn't normally do, or things that they shouldn't do, all in the name of love. This is not to say leaps of faith should not be taken, but one should be very careful about what another might use the word "love" for.
I present to you, then, the following case study in the dysfunctional relationship of Sarah Williams and Jareth, the Goblin King.
". . .but the Goblin King was in love with the girl."
The first of several instances when the word "love" is used, but take note that it is always used passively. In other words, it is not ever directly said to make any of the characters of the story and object. It might be argued that since it was in the Labyrinth book, it had to be true. However, not everything that happened in the book happened in the Labyrinth, or else Sarah might have solved it much more easily.
". . .as the world falls down, falling in love."
Another instance when the word "love" is used passively. One might argue that the words of the song are simply implying that the singer merely offers romance while the rest of the world falls in love, excluding himself and the object of the song.
"Yes I do, live without your sunlight, love without your heartbeat, I can't live within you."
Jareth claims generosity up to this point, and even claims exhaustion from the amount of magick he's expended on Sarah, but is this really true? How does Sarah know? How can she possibly know his magickal reserves are on low? She wouldn't. She wouldn't even know if he reordered time, or simply the hands of a clock to trick her. But, the idea, the delusion that he did it for her, he went the distance for her might make her back off, might make her change her mind, and might make her play directly into his hands.
He also said he moved the stars for no one. Which probably meant her, too. Allowing for possibility, he may not have had the power to do so.
"I have been generous. . ."
Note the use of the word "generous." He offered generosity in the wake of selfishness, just to play a game with her. If he loved her, actually loved her, he would have given her the child, no questions asked. The generosity certainly wouldn't have been so malicious. He would have apologized for his horrible mistake. Instead he restorted to making the whole situation into her fault.
"Fear me, love me, do as I say."
I refuse to dwell on such a statement, but I would like to say that "fear" and any equivalent to "obey" do not belong in association with love, particularly in a commanding statement. Love here has been perverted. Love knows no fear, love knows no true submission and love is not certainly demanded or commaned.
"You have no power over me."
Finally, the pinnacle of what Sarah needed to do. She could only win over Jareth by asserting that he could not dominate her. She, until then, wanted the seductive fantasy prince, the one who could save her from her Cinderella life, who would allow her to go back to an innocent childhood devoid of responsibility. What she went into the Labyrinth for was to grow and change. And grow she did, for in the end, she rejected the fantasy prince and the fantasy life, grew up and took responsibility for her life. She ended up facing her problems and letting go of her childhood.
The side effect of such a choice, of course is gaining the confidence necessary to reject Jareth. Jareth, seeing that he could hold no sway over her, rejected her in kind.
Note also, "You have no power over me," can also include love.
Given these facts, I firmly believe that Labyrinth is not a love story, but a conflict story. Love, I feel, did not ever enter into the story.
*Author drops deed*
*Deed bounces.*
Get the hint? Oh, by the way, I don't own Spider Jerusalem or The Word, either.
Dedication: To all those who've suffered in dysfunctional relationships. Here is my most solemn chapter, for you. I feel your pain.
Author's note: Okay, 100% seriousness here. Flame away for the things I say, but it doesn't make them any less true. But don't until you've read chapter 6. . .
**********************************************************************************
Four days after she made the announcement, Rage sent the paper, which was formerly claimed to be written by Dr. Strangelove, to Spider Jerusalem for publication in The Word. The body of the paper was as follows:
"A Practical Treatise on Manipulative Relationships"
by Jaden Rage
Love does not always mean love. In fact, love is often misused to pervert relationships, to make people do things that they wouldn't normally do, or things that they shouldn't do, all in the name of love. This is not to say leaps of faith should not be taken, but one should be very careful about what another might use the word "love" for.
I present to you, then, the following case study in the dysfunctional relationship of Sarah Williams and Jareth, the Goblin King.
". . .but the Goblin King was in love with the girl."
The first of several instances when the word "love" is used, but take note that it is always used passively. In other words, it is not ever directly said to make any of the characters of the story and object. It might be argued that since it was in the Labyrinth book, it had to be true. However, not everything that happened in the book happened in the Labyrinth, or else Sarah might have solved it much more easily.
". . .as the world falls down, falling in love."
Another instance when the word "love" is used passively. One might argue that the words of the song are simply implying that the singer merely offers romance while the rest of the world falls in love, excluding himself and the object of the song.
"Yes I do, live without your sunlight, love without your heartbeat, I can't live within you."
Jareth claims generosity up to this point, and even claims exhaustion from the amount of magick he's expended on Sarah, but is this really true? How does Sarah know? How can she possibly know his magickal reserves are on low? She wouldn't. She wouldn't even know if he reordered time, or simply the hands of a clock to trick her. But, the idea, the delusion that he did it for her, he went the distance for her might make her back off, might make her change her mind, and might make her play directly into his hands.
He also said he moved the stars for no one. Which probably meant her, too. Allowing for possibility, he may not have had the power to do so.
"I have been generous. . ."
Note the use of the word "generous." He offered generosity in the wake of selfishness, just to play a game with her. If he loved her, actually loved her, he would have given her the child, no questions asked. The generosity certainly wouldn't have been so malicious. He would have apologized for his horrible mistake. Instead he restorted to making the whole situation into her fault.
"Fear me, love me, do as I say."
I refuse to dwell on such a statement, but I would like to say that "fear" and any equivalent to "obey" do not belong in association with love, particularly in a commanding statement. Love here has been perverted. Love knows no fear, love knows no true submission and love is not certainly demanded or commaned.
"You have no power over me."
Finally, the pinnacle of what Sarah needed to do. She could only win over Jareth by asserting that he could not dominate her. She, until then, wanted the seductive fantasy prince, the one who could save her from her Cinderella life, who would allow her to go back to an innocent childhood devoid of responsibility. What she went into the Labyrinth for was to grow and change. And grow she did, for in the end, she rejected the fantasy prince and the fantasy life, grew up and took responsibility for her life. She ended up facing her problems and letting go of her childhood.
The side effect of such a choice, of course is gaining the confidence necessary to reject Jareth. Jareth, seeing that he could hold no sway over her, rejected her in kind.
Note also, "You have no power over me," can also include love.
Given these facts, I firmly believe that Labyrinth is not a love story, but a conflict story. Love, I feel, did not ever enter into the story.