Melding Mythology: How The Force Awakens Combined Past and Present
The Force Awakens and Its Mythological Foundations
The Force Awakens, the seventh installment in the immensely popular Star Wars franchise, centred its narrative on a sacred component of the franchise - the original tradition of light and dark; good and evil. Throughout the movie, the importance of a perfect balance between ancient tales and modern sensibilities is emphasised. This balance brings us to the intersection between mythology and science fiction in the Star Wars universe.
Mythology Makes a Comeback
The mythology of ancient Greece and Rome had a huge influence on The Force Awakens. This ancient mythology has strong ties to the first six Star Wars movies and became a powerful influence in The Force Awakens. The story draws heavily on themes of ancient myths, such as the eternal struggle between balance and chaos, mortality and immortality, and darkness and light. These mythical elements are reimagined and reinvented in the Star Wars universe and give the movie a sense of timelessness and familiarity.
Themes Reimagined in a Sci-Fi Universe
In The Force Awakens, the principle of “eternal return” - two characters from different generations in the Star Wars universe, Kylo Ren and his grandfather, Darth Vader - are linked by the same inner struggle. Just as the gods of Greek and Roman myths battle each other, Kylo Ren and Darth Vader also struggle within themselves. The classic heroes journey is reinvented in a futuristic context, emphasising the timelessness of this mythological motif.
The Return of the Jedi
The central theme of The Force Awakens, and one of the main messages of the movie, is that “the Force Awakens in all of us” - a concept inspired by the notion of “the return of the Jedi”. In the classical mythology, the gods often return to help humans in times of need. This is seen in The Force Awakens as Rey, a young scavenger, discovers her strength in the Force and helps bring balance to the galaxy.
A Bridge Between Past and Present
By melding mythology and science fiction in The Force Awakens, the film is able to explore the themes of mythology and the modern world in a way that is both familiar and meaningful. The movie is a bridge between the past and present, celebrating the age-old traditions of classical mythology while ushering in a bold new era of science fiction. Through its narrative, characters, and themes, The Force Awakens provides us with an exciting and thought-provoking retelling of some of humanity's oldest stories.