Torres - Princess Leia's role in Return of the Jedi
In the movie Return of the Jedi Leia takes on some rather complex roles. At some points in the movie she takes on the role of the hero, which up until now has usually been played by Han and Luke. Leia sneaks into Jabba's base disguised as a bounty hunter with the intent to save Han. Later in the film she singlehandedly kills Jabba, rescuing them all from the possibility of being perused by him and his people upon their escape. She also holds her ground against attacking storm troopers in the forest on Endor. Overall Leia's character has expanded a lot in this movie, but the two main roles that she plays in regards to Campbell's analysis of the hero's journey is that of the goddess and the temptress.
According to Campbell, the goddess represents the point in the adventure when the hero experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all encompassing, unconditional love that a fortunate infant may experience with his or her mother. This is a very important step in the process and is often represented by the person finding the other person that he or she loves most completely. The goddess figure motivates the hero to be a better person and complete his journey. In other words, she gives the hero something to fight for. Leia takes on this role for both Luke and Han. At this point in the trilogy Luke no longer has feels the attraction towards Leia that initially started his journey; he views her as a friend. When Luke realizes that Leia is his twin sister he gains a new love for her that helps to motivate him to finish his journey. For Han, Leia has developed into a romantic partner; He loves her. Leia motivates Han to be a better person and to fulfill his role as civic hero.
The 'Woman as Temptress' is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which as with the 'Meeting with the Goddess' does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. For Campbell, however, woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey. Leia embodies this role when she is discovered by Jabba and forced to be his eye candy. She is made to wear a golden bikini and is chained to his platform/throne. Replacing the previous female figure who was in the same situation and forced to dance provocatively for Jabba's entertainment, Leia is being cast as a type of love slave and shown as an object of temptation and lust to the audience. Later in the movie Leia tries to persuade Luke not to face Darth Vader and instead to flee with her. She does not realize that facing his father is something that he needs to do to complete his journey, so she tempts him not to go in the hopes of saving his life.
According to Campbell, the goddess represents the point in the adventure when the hero experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all encompassing, unconditional love that a fortunate infant may experience with his or her mother. This is a very important step in the process and is often represented by the person finding the other person that he or she loves most completely. The goddess figure motivates the hero to be a better person and complete his journey. In other words, she gives the hero something to fight for. Leia takes on this role for both Luke and Han. At this point in the trilogy Luke no longer has feels the attraction towards Leia that initially started his journey; he views her as a friend. When Luke realizes that Leia is his twin sister he gains a new love for her that helps to motivate him to finish his journey. For Han, Leia has developed into a romantic partner; He loves her. Leia motivates Han to be a better person and to fulfill his role as civic hero.
The 'Woman as Temptress' is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which as with the 'Meeting with the Goddess' does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. For Campbell, however, woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey. Leia embodies this role when she is discovered by Jabba and forced to be his eye candy. She is made to wear a golden bikini and is chained to his platform/throne. Replacing the previous female figure who was in the same situation and forced to dance provocatively for Jabba's entertainment, Leia is being cast as a type of love slave and shown as an object of temptation and lust to the audience. Later in the movie Leia tries to persuade Luke not to face Darth Vader and instead to flee with her. She does not realize that facing his father is something that he needs to do to complete his journey, so she tempts him not to go in the hopes of saving his life.
Okay, I see that I missed this blog. Your point about all encompassing love is good as is your point about woman as symbol of temptations of life. They bring life, but they also bring death. What does that mean symbolically?
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