Archetypal Themes In The Movie, The Dark Crystal

Though it may seem like just a children’s movie, The Dark Crystal possesses many fundamental events and themes that are present in an archetypal story. Right from the start, we see the appearance of duality. The fictional society was created from the splitting of a crystal which created two races: one good, the UrRu (Mystics) and one bad, the Skeksis. When the crystal was united, they were of one race: the urSkeks. This concept of good and bad is a representation of people; we all have our good times and our bad.
The film is almost a perfect representation of the hero cycle. The story centers on Jen, a Gelfling; supposedly the last remaining member of his species. Jen’s family was killed because there was a prophecy saying that a Gelfling will end the rule of the Skeksis. Though his physical birth was his introduction to the world, Jen’s real birth is represented when it was established that he had to be the one to fulfill the prophecy. Again, duality is represented here with Jen’s birth coinciding with the other Gelflings’ deaths.

Unlike other films, The Dark Crystal displays two different, mirroring plotlines; one of the protagonist and one of the antagonists.

Throughout the movie, the scenes change between Jen and the Skeksis. The scene changes gives viewers a glimpse into the shoes of the antagonists, which doesn’t frequently appear in films.
Additionally, the dual points of view allows the viewer see the presence of the hero cycle in Jen’s story as well as aspects of the hero cycle through Chamberlain (a Skeksis) as well. The dual point of view juxtaposes the story lines and events in the characters’ lives as well as amplifies the presence of duality in the film. For example, Jen and Chamberlain’s “call to adventures” are very similar. Jen’s mission to unite the crystal is kick-started by the death of his mentor UrSu. The death of the Skeksis’ emperor causes Chamberlain to be exiled from his tribe which begins his journey

home.
The threshold crossing occurred when Jen is sent out into the world. He was reluctant and initially didn’t want to leave his home by himself but eventually got the willpower to do so. Identically, Chamberlain didn’t want to leave his home but unlike Jen, he was forced out. Most of the time, not all aspects of the monomyth appear in one character’s storyline. Usually, the protagonist goes through most of the steps but not every single one. What The Dark Crystal does that is very remarkable is that the steps that Jen does not go through, Chamberlain does. For example, Jen does not go through dismemberment or crucifixion. When Chamberlain loses his battle to become emperor, he is stripped of his ornate robes. Since his robes are a representation of who is is, taking them away is considered dismemberment. To coincide with the dismemberment, Chamberlain is “crucified”. He is publically shamed and is extremely embarrassed as he is essentially naked in front of everyone. Another example would be a Brother-Battle and a Dragon-Battle. Chamberlin goes through a brother battle when he faces the General for the Emperor’s throne. Jen on the other hand must escape the Garthim which is an example of a dragon battle. In other films, the story would only feature one, but in The Dark Crystal, viewers get the full spectacle.
The Dark Crystal is a movie for the entire family to enjoy. The plot portrays the hero cycle in a way that is familiar but not boring which is why it is still being enjoyed 34 years later.