![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
World Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl 2003
Day 29- How do you feel about the female characterization in the films?
Well, that's complicated especially since it depends on how you interpret the films.
On the surface, it doesn't look good, does it?
Only about six females had speaking lines in the first three films: two only appeared in one film, two were whores and another was made into the villain.
Except that there's Elizabeth Swann...Disney can claim the series is about Jack Sparrow all it wants but the original trilogy revolved around Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the first face we saw and one of the last. Everything was about her journey...her Hero's Journey. Some have claimed her to be a Mary Sue. Her own creators call her a modern girl trapped in the past. However, let's take a look...
2.1.1 The Call to Adventure
Elizabeth finds a mysterious boy and more importantly, a medallion that she recognizes as belonging to a pirate. She already finds piracy "quite fascinating".
2.1.2 Refusal of the Call
However, instead of finding out why the boy has this medallion or what exactly it means, Elizabeth hides the medallion for years so that it becomes dusty. Instead, she acts the part of a dutiful governor's daughter.
2.1.3 Supernatural Aid
Although Elizabeth doesn't consciously realize it, she accepts the call as soon as she puts on the medallion and immediately receives a brand new dress from her father that will lead to meeting Jack Sparrow. Her father will also provide her with a gun, aid and information as the trilogy progresses. James also acts as a supernatural helper; providing her with clothes, aid and information.
2.1.4 The Crossing of the First Threshold
Elizabeth gets her first taste of this dangerous, supernatural world when she runs from Barbossa and discovers that the entire crew appears to be skeletons.
2.1.5 Belly of The Whale
Elizabeth has been to the cave on Isla de la Muerta once before without her consent and had to be rescued by Will. Now, with James' help, she is dressed in a new outfit of pants compared to her traditional dress that she has worn all along. However, against James' and her father's wishes, she escapes to willingly enter the cave on her own to rescue Will. She finally conquers her fears of the unknown and starts to become a new self-assured adult in the process.
2.2 Initiation
2.2.1 The Road of Trials
Liz is prevented in her task to marry Will by Beckett. She thought her Hero's Journey was over but it's only begun. Her first task is to find Jack and get his compass, but Jack won't give it up until she helps them find a chest. Then, once they find the chest, she will be tasked with keeping it safe...and that's not including her trials in the third film!
2.2.2 The Meeting With the Goddess
Elizabeth already has her God...Will...but on Isla de la Muerta, she is rewarded by being reunited with him.
2.2.3 Woman as Temptress
Even Elizabeth has Will, she's still tempted by others especially Jack Sparrow. It's shortly after her reunion with Will that she kisses Jack Sparrow. She claims it's in order to trick him into staying although he had already returned to the ship of his own accord. It's common with heroes that they are often wrong and make fatal mistakes along their journey, like Harry leading everyone to the Department of Mysteries because he thought Sirius was in trouble.
2.2.4 Atonement with the Father
Not only does Elizabeth have to help retrieve Jack Sparrow from the Land of the Dead, but she has to face him for what she's done. He does nothing to soothe her guilt. However, she also comes across her father who does give her reassurance that she is on the right path.
2.2.5 Apotheosis
Elizabeth has to come to terms with the death of her father: the loss of a home to go back to and now being an orphan. She has to fully accept her new adult role and responsibilities. It's a period of reflection where she's both pampered and molested by a Pirate Lord. Then, she's reunited with her remaining supernatural mentor, James Norrington. However, he sacrifices himself in order to help her and her newly acquired pirate crew to escape. The final tie to her childhood is severed and Elizabeth begins her mourning period in earnest: trading her elaborate outfit for black armor.
2.2.6 The Ultimate Boon
Elizabeth is secure in her new role. In fact, she is now a Pirate King and leading them into war. She also no longer feels any guilt over her previous killing of Jack Sparrow and trades him for Will's freedom. She and Will finally marry during battle.
2.3 Return
2.3.1 Refusal of the Return
Now, that she finally has Will as her husband, she does not want to leave him even though he is now tied to the supernatural world and she is meant for the regular one.
2.3.2 The Magic Flight
Jack is forced to literally fly away with her to save her life.
2.3.3 Rescue from Without
To help Elizabeth with her transition to the regular world, Will comes back and they have sex. Elizabeth is reassured that Will loves her no matter where he may be and that they will see each other again.
2.3.4 The Crossing of the Return Threshold
Elizabeth is further tied to the regular world by pregnancy: the final confirmation of her adulthood. However, it's not a simple case of finding someplace and settling down. Even her creators admit that there may be at least one more trip in store for her to the Land of the Dead.
2.3.5 Master of Two Worlds
Elizabeth is the master of two worlds. Not only has she been to the Land of the Dead and returned, more than once, but her husband ferried souls for ten years except now he has returned.
2.3.6 Freedom to Live
Elizabeth now has the knowledge that she has the freedom to be anything from Pirate King to mother. Her Hero's Journey is complete.
However, that left a hole for On Stranger Tides. They've added Angelica who I'm hoping will end up being awesome but it is disheartening to hear her described in terms like: "Blackbeard's daughter" or "Jack's ex" instead of her own terms as not defined by men.
