![]() ![]() He is at a crossroads: fight back and (hopefully) live to fight another day, or concede he is out of options. And whether he wants to change his ways or not at this point, any sense of agency Solo might have is taken away from him, courtesy of Darth Vader. Planting roots of any kind, let alone remaining still for an extended length of time, would appear highly unlikely. Whether that is avoiding Imperial entanglements, working on the next smuggling opportunity, or escaping the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt, Han is on the move. He’s frequently on the run and headed towards the next adventure. Up until this point in Star Wars, Han has lived an itinerant life. Leia and Han’s unconventional courtship is not allowed to prosper and grow, but there is hope. But now everything is put on hold, perhaps permanently, if Boba Fett and Jabba the Hutt have their way. She has witnessed a seismic shift in Solo’s emotional growth and maturity, and will hold back no further. She tells him she loves him, and unburdens herself of what she has been feeling inside. For instance, besides the threat to his mortality that being frozen entails, Princess Leia’s grief is further enhanced by this moment. It’s ironic that being closed off to this emotion, or allowing oneself to be in love, has now manifested itself into becoming a trophy for Jabba the Hutt’s wall. Allowing himself to be vulnerable to love may be the scariest thing Han Solo has ever faced. Being put into carbon freeze will allow for Han to turn off feelings he has not allowed himself to experience for a very long time. He has been closed off emotionally for a while, now, which is why his burgeoning relationship with Leia Organa is such a potential threat to his false sense of security. It’s difficult and unexplored territory for the captain of the Millennium Falcon. ![]() The conflict within can be much more daunting than any asteroids or stormtrooper blaster fire. From a literary perspective, ice may imply that Han is closed off to the feelings he is struggling with. This is a threat to Solo’s mortality, but it’s also a threat to his growth as a character. Let’s further extend the metaphor: With Han being in carbonite, he is, in essence, encased in frozen water. The carbon freeze chamber emphasizes this with dramatic precision. However, when the water freezes, the symbolism turns dire. Conversely, rough waters indicate turmoil and angst. As water flows, so to do the character’s range of emotions the more calm the water, the more relaxed the character feels. It can be a mirror that provides insight into the character’s emotional state. Water is often associated with a number of key storytelling ideas that reflect a great deal about where a character is in his or her journey. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |