River is Made of Shakespeare? by MoxyBrown

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River is Made of Shakespeare?

POSTED BY: MOXYBROWN
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 19:34
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VIEWED: 1468
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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:17 PM

For those who have not yet seen Serenity, there is a mild spoiler starting the fifth paragraph down. You have been warned.

This morning, as I enjoyed an oaty bar and prepared myself to go out into the world and be somebody, I was thinking about Firefly, and I had this epiphone (no...that's an amp). Epiphany, that's it (though I do SO wish it was spelled the other way).

I wonder if anyone has asked this before, or if perhaps anywhere anyone has heard Joss mention this. I have this (brand spankin' new to me) idea that River could be somewhat based on Ophelia, of Hamlet fame.

For those of you not saavy to The Bard, I have cut and paste the basic explanation of her character from SparkNotes. They were more concise than my first (or second) try to summarize her.

Quote:
OPHELIA:
Polonius's daughter, a beautiful young woman with whom Hamlet has been in love. A sweet and innocent young girl, Ophelia dutifully strives to obey her father and her brother, Laertes, allowing Polonius to use her in his scheme to spy on Hamlet. When her father dies, her sanity unravels, and in her madness she paints a scathing picture of young men as sexually exploitative and unfaithful, and her mad speeches about flowers conceal implied condemnations of Claudius and Gertrude.

Using this very explanation with strategic substitutions, I will now summarize River. Again, spoilers ahead!

Select to view spoiler:

RIVER:
Gabriel Tam's daughter, a beautiful young woman with whom Flans the world over have fallen in love. A sweet and innocent young girl, River dutifully strives to obey her father and her mother, Regan, allowing The Alliance to use her in their scheme to spy on everyone. When her amygdala is all machete-fied, her sanity unravels, and in her madness she paints a difficult to understand picture of Miranda, and her mad speeches about brain-pans conceal implied condemnations of Key Members of Parliament.

So, in short, girl starts out all happy and innocent, but because she is a pawn in the sinister larger story she winds up all morbid and creepifyin'. She speaks the truths that others cannot because she is crazier than snakes at Disneyworld.

Also, we know that Joss loves the Shakespeare, so it occurred to me that maybe on some level, conscious or otherwise, she is artistically related to Ophelia.

Well, that got long...

Talkin' ain't' doin.'

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:28 PM

DAVESHAYNE

I don't think so.

Select to view spoiler:

River did not attend the academy at her parents behest. She wanted to go because she wanted to learn at what she was led to believe was the best school available. As soon as she found out what the academy was really doing to her she did everything she could to get out.

David

"A lot of people are asking me, you know, what exactly is Firefly? It's a tv show you morons!" - Joss Whedon

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:33 PM

SERENITYVALLEY

Except that, ya know, Ophelia wasn't really psychic, she was just crazy 'cause Hamlet killed her father. Oops! Spoiler!

No, I'm just kidding. I can see the similarities, but I wouldn't have drawn the conclusion that River is based on Ophelia. If you're gonna do famous literature, Casandra (Ilyad) springs to mind, but who knows if Joss reads Homer.

http://www.simple-assault.com/Firefly.htm

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:35 PM

FURIOUSMONKEYBOY

Actually I was in Disneyworld this weekend....and I did see a snake..however it was rubber and on the Great Movie Ride...which sadly isn't so great cause most of the puppets are breaking.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 7:34 PM

GORBISHUN

Quote:
Originally posted by furiousmonkeyboy:
Actually I was in Disneyworld this weekend....and I did see a snake..however it was rubber and on the Great Movie Ride...which sadly isn't so great cause most of the puppets are breaking.

HAHAHA--poor puppets, no one loves them...

But, on the topic of River, you very well could be right, even if just partially. Who knows what Joss was thinking, besides what he told us...

«°-:-°»
Also... I can kill you with my brain.

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