Thank you @ewa-a-nie-chce-spac for your encouragement and @shadowlass for inspiration 🙂 I’ve been thinking about writing this post for a year, but recently few things happened that motivated me to do it:
Finally I had a chance to watch “Beauty and the Beast”. Well, I saw the animated version before but watching the new one only made me realize why I disagree so strongly with the conclusions of this fairytale. I was never a fan of this theory which highlights the parallels between Kylo and the Beast. Of course, there is some similarity in the outer layer and symbolism but the core of the story is totally different: while Beast is a proud and vain man and so his task in the story is to learn how to love another human being, Kylo is full of self-hatred and doubt and his main goal in this trilogy is learn how to love himself.
What is more, there are many fairytales that reflect more accurately the main motives visible in the Force Awakens. The two that, in my opinion, are the most fitting here are “Snow Queen” and “Prince Lindworm”. But let me say this: since I’ve become a part of this fandom I admired all those talented people who were creating amazing stores, drawing beautiful fanarts and those who put their extensive knowledge (from fabulously varied fields!) into use, writing metas. I also wanted to contribute and share those bits and pieces that I’ve collected during my studies. I decided to divide this post into two parts: the first one will be about the Snow Queen and I will discuss the similarities between the fairytale and TFA on the level of the plot and its symbolism. This one will be more like a summary. In the second part I will write about Prince Lindwom and more psychological stuff, like trauma, dissociation and archetypal defenses of personal spirit. However, I will focus on Kylo’s relation with Snoke in both parts, because I feel that there are still some things that need to be said.
TLJ has almost exactly the same storyline as The Snow Queen! Only the ending is changed, so when Kai finaly becomes “ his own master, and has the whole world and a pair of new skates” he decides to use his new power instead of going home with Gertha!
Yes, your meta was quite prophetic and predicted the narrative direction and theme of TLJ very accurately. 🙂
May I suggest revisiting your meta instead of rewriting it? This meta is a perfect example of very accurate plot and theme extrapolation of what TFA has established. As such it’s yet another proof that you (and the reylo fandom in general) interpreted TFA the way it was meant to by the creators. It really shows that you understood long before TLJ came out what kind of story they are telling.
Maybe you could add commentaries throughout your meta, pointing out what plot points, character motivations and themes from the fairy tale have already occurred in TLJ?
The last question of your meta where you ask if Kay’s and Kylo’s/Ben’s story ending will be similar would be a really good starting point for speculations about character journeys in Episode IX. I wonder if they stick to the plot of The Snow Queen (in a slightly more elaborate way) or if they subvert it. I kinda hope for the latter because reducing everything to “love will save the day” seems a little bit too simplistic. But maybe that’s just a matter of personal taste. 🙂
TLJ spoiler reading warning
I will read each and every spoiler, no matter how fake from now on til probably January. So be warned!
Monsters and Villains 