Archetypes

For this blog I have decided to delve into one of my personal all time favorite movies, The Bourne Identity. Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, a man has no idea who he is. He is found by simple fisherman in the Mediterranean. After visiting his Swiss bank account and finding out his name, he must travel to discover who he really is. Joined by Marie, a "friend" who he was recently aquainted with, the two must avoid assasigns who are out to kill Jason before he uncovers who he is and what he is capable of.

First off, we are shown the hero side. Jason might always not make the right choices but we see in several scenes that he is trying to protect those around him. Another interesting thing I noticed was that Jason seemed to have these constant flashbacks. These flashbacks prosed a unique archetype. Whenever he flashed- back to a bad memory or something he did wrong, they would be dark. Yet whenever he came across a good memory or though in this flashbacks, they had some light around the scene and would sort of illuminate in his mind. This can be seen as an archetype that contrasts light and dark. Finally we take a look at Marie. Now Marie is not really a maiden. Jason never really saves her from danger or rescues her, but when I look at her I see her more as a sidekick. She helps Jason figure stuff out and as we have seen through the characteristics of a sidekick, she completes him. She has patience, something that Jason lacks.

Now we take a look at the more concrete archetypes of European as well as American culture. We see large quantities of technology and advances in that during the movie. Americans and Europeans are known for being very well technically advanced. Also we have this idea that we dont always believe everything the government tells us. That the government could be keeping something from us, which is adequetly placed in the movie.

All in all, it is easy to see how this movie can be portrayed as an archetypal story that incorporates modern day with everyday principles.