The Corpse Bride: a psychoanalyst's interpretation of the film

George Alvarez 18-10-2023
George Alvarez

The playful and childlike atmosphere of The Corpse Bride provides an opening for reflections about love. The animation has elements that explain the interaction and change of an individual when they fall in love. Therefore, the following article details this and other points, so be sure to check out how these aspects are conveyed through a children's movie!

Storyline

The Corpse Bride tells the story of Victor Van Dort, the son of merchants with a rising fortune. The boy's family has arranged a marriage to Victoria Everglot, from a bankrupt aristocratic family. The consolidated marriage is vital for both, as it will give prestige to one and restore glory to the other. However, neither of the bride and groom wants to consummate the act .

In the middle of a rehearsal, Victor makes a mistake in his vows and runs off into the forest to be alone. Repeating his lines over and over again, the moment comes when he gets it right, placing a wedding ring on an apparent branch. However, the stick was the skeletal hand of the late Emily, convinced that she would marry again She takes the boy to the world of the dead.

Gradually, both Victor and Victoria resignify their view of love What was once a business deal turns into a genuine, mutual love relationship, and Emily finds the peace she needed in the right way. Both they and the other characters give a new vision to what they previously believed.

Interpretation

The Corpse Bride works on the fear of accepting changes greater than our primitive nature The figure of love here is worked as an overwhelming object, greater than anything. The delivery to him must be done voluntarily and naturally, so that he does not suffer from his weight. This is not the case here.

Victor and Victoria have personal conceptions of what this represents and are not comfortable with the arranged marriage. The anguish causes her to imagine the rejection of her fiancé and him for not connecting with her. individuation here is threatened in both cases. Love must be sought as a way to make us find autonomy .

The experiences they both go through in the course of the film ultimately unravel the situation. Victor matures his attitude as he comes into contact with the deceased Emily. The latter, in turn, is at peace when she discovers her killer and the true meaning of love Victoria, on the other hand, understands her feelings for the boy and accepts the union.

Sad Van Dort

At The Corpse Bride , Victor's behavior refers directly to the way he views Victoria. According to Jung's Psychoanalysis, the woman is named Anima representing the female component to the man. When he maintains a negative relationship with it, he ends up misrepresenting his perspective on life. In this case:

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It makes you pessimistic

Victor condenses well what a poorly worked relationship with his female part can do. The same ends up generating a bad outlook on life, being the greatest of the pessimists This matches his voice, physical and mental hesitation and personal insecurity. In an almost ironic way, he is suited to the funeral atmosphere of death.

Powerless

We can notice that his figure cannot resist the events in which he gets involved. His incomprehension makes him be guided by external, human forces, overriding his will. This happens until he really understands what he wants and what he is looking for So you take the lead in making your own decisions.

Apathetic

Victor proves to be as dead as the deceased characters from the other world. His non-understanding of the connection with his female representation of love makes him neutral to her As such, this is reflected in his appearance, behavior, and even in his feelings. Once he understands his emotions, he literally comes back to life.

Anima X Animus

When we look at The Corpse Bride we are able to capture the existence of two distinct objects in man and woman. These are animates e animus Basically, they show themselves in the following identities:

Anima

Anima represents the connection of man with woman and, consequently, with life It is the way the female figure is mentally represented, giving one the perspective of a relationship with her.

However, Victor nurtures the negative aspect of this and this is reflected in his behavior It carries a sad, oppressive appearance and an apathetic posture. If it is not well developed, this representation ends up uniting with the figure of death, in this case, depression.

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Animus

This is fostered by Victoria, who, like her fiancé, harbors negative aspects about it. In this way, ends up feeding destructive reflections in relation to this entity For example, she believed that she would not receive the proper attention from her fiancé whom she barely knew.

The female figure of death

At The Corpse Bride one of the elements that fascinated the audience the most was the character Emily. The dead bride had an irrepressible desire to have love and to savor it in its fullness. Even if unintentionally, the woman ends up suffocating Victor's free will, however, Wouldn't this be his vision of marriage?

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Emily represents the morbid fear that passion causes in some people Love is a transcendent figure that ends up swallowing individuals and covering up the will of the Ego. Emily's strength to love represents its strength in drowning us if not handled well. This is why the boy fears him so much at first.

His relationship with Emily matures his childish view of love. His fears, misgivings, and afflictions are well explained and handled, in a way that matures him After the underworld experience, the boy is more focused on what he feels and what Victoria herself holds dear. With this, you can connect the two parts of a whole.

Final considerations on The Corpse Bride

Incredibly so, The Corpse Bride is a complete journey into the love relationship we cultivated in life The animation provides deep reflections on what love would be and where it would develop, involving idealization, fear, doubts, and the certainty of what we carry.

It is worth pointing out the negative power that imposition brings when it comes to relationships. No one is obliged to live up to the expectations that the other has created for him Your choices should be based on decisions that are personal and honest with you, so you will have the first impulse to live fully.

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P.S.: If you want to watch The Corpse Bride, it is possible to rent the movie for a few days on Youtube! So don't miss the chance to watch the movie again knowing everything that was discussed above.

George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.