Jareth and Sarah Labyrinth Analysis | Was Jareth the Good Guy? | Labyrinth Movie Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 жов 2024
- In this Labyrinth movie review, I explain Jareth the Goblin King is actually the good guy of the movie, and how he teaches Sarah valuable life lessons. Sarah and Jareth analysis.
Fantasy movie and TV playlist: • Fantasy Movies & TV
He never harmed the baby or her. He entertained a crying child she was neglecting, and taught her responsibility etc. making her mature a lot. Jareth did nothing wrong.
It was wrong of jareth to take Toby from his home. Hope
That makes sense
@@stephenoakleaf3647at the request of his older sibling
She doesn't fall asleep in her room. She storms off to Toby's bedroom and wishes him away. Then Jareth comes and transports her to the labyrinth so she can win Toby back.
That was after she laid down (fell asleep), then noticed her stuffed bear missing. When she returns to the house at the end, she's either asleep until in her room again if the viewer wants to believe she can actually see the characters, or she's still asleep and dreaming when we see her in the room with the characters.
I actually agree with you I do have the film movie on VHS because you never did fall sleep with guys just making that up
David Bowie can never be the bad guy!
Jarith did nothing wrong I think.
He granted Sarah's wish and when she realized what she did she asked for the kid back .
Instead of saying no jarith challenged her to be better and get smarter and at the end she had the wisdom to pass the final test .
I think in that world of the movie he was in fact real and just a wise teacher.
"You asked the child be taken: I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening..." plus the fact she literally reads aloud from the BOOK that the "king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl and granted her certain powers"... Then at the end it's "I can never remember that line". He is LITERALLY a book character trapped in his lines. Talk about nightmare fuel... I feel like sometimes you can read the frustration on his expressions as Sarah acts out her part, disregarding his actual feelings since he's just a book character 😭
This whole movie is crushing on a fictional character and I live for it
I remember when I first saw this movie it always did seem to me that the Goblin King came to teach her a lesson, and in the end she turned out to be a much better person.
It's refreshing to see a take that doesn't throw Jareth into the bad guy pit. I think you might have missed a few things, though.
My take on Jareth is that... he's following orders. Sure, he acts terrible to Sarah and the others, but it's not because he specifically wants to. He's playing the part of villain. The movie starts with Sarah playing out her favorite book as the heroine confronting the villain. She then has to deal with the stress of reality (family) and wishes for her biggest responsibility (Toby) to vanish.
Jareth does what she wants, and as pointed out, he doesn't have to give Sarah a chance. Except... he does. Because Sarah EXPECTS to be able to save her brother. She EXPECTS that she (the heroine) can save Toby. No matter what Jareth does, she expects to always be able to succeed. I think the peach and dancing was his attempt to change her mind and the only chance he could actually affect her resolve, which still ended up failing.
Before she confronts Jareth in his tower, she stops her friends from coming along because "that's the way it's done." She's dictating the rules. Further, when Jareth is trying to negotiate with her before the final "you have no power over me" he clearly states that he's "rewound time, turned the world upside down and I have done it all for you" and then after sighing he states, "I'm tired of living up to your expectations of me."
Her expectations of him. He's playing the role of villain for her. Because that's what she expects. She wants a challenge, an adventure and the struggle of rescuing her brother. And the romance of being pursued by a mysterious and handsome king is something almost every teen girl has in her head.
I don't think Jareth had a choice, he was created to do as she wanted, even subconsciously. And he does bad things because SHE expects it. Sarah was always the one in control.
Just to add to that, one of my favorite lines in all of movies comes from Jareth, replying to Sarah whining that “It’s not fair!”
He says, “You say that so often. I wonder what your basis for comparison is.”
He’s basically saying she’s a spoiled brat that thinks the world revolves around her. Probably gets her way a lot more than she thinks she does.
And later, when Hoggle also says that “it’s not fair,” Sarah wisens up, & says, “No. It’s not fair. But that’s the way it is.”
Yeah he even says “You cowered before me, I was frightening”
@@makocrab2223yeah and I like how it carried over in the manga sequel. Toby grows up to be a reckless highschool student. Being lazy, seeing video games as more important, failing classes etc while Sarah discards her dreams of acting and theater and is a bland school teacher (this plays a major part in one of the new characters) Jareth and his goblins were always behind the scenes making Toby’s life easier. He chose to leave Sarah alone but still sees his future heir in Toby.
Jareth does things in Toby’s school life like shutting down a whole play because Toby is stressed and doesn’t remember his lines (which was actually The Labyrinth coincidentally) which didn’t go well with his peers as he was made fun of. Jareth also helps Toby pass his test by magically putting the answers on the paper but Toby keeps discarding the paper scared he was gonna get accused of cheating but it kept reappearing and Toby punched a window because coincidentally an owl was watching him which landed him in the principals office.
Jareth was disguised as Toby’s new guidence counselor and revealed himself saying he could have whatever he wanted. Toby saying he doesn’t want that and doesn’t need him angers Jareth because like with Sarah he doesn’t know why someone would turn down an offer like that. Before Jareth leaves Toby he says “You are no longer Jareth to me, Toby.” a callback to Jareth jokingly saying he would rename Toby Jareth
This is why everyone loves jareth (and cause he was david bowie)
This is a great analysis of not only Jareth, but the story as a whole! You pointed out plenty of things I had never considered before. Truly, Jim Henson was taken away from this world much too soon. It's saddening to think about how much more of his brilliant imagination we were deprived of since his passing.
Whole comment section is full of paragraphs
The video presented an interesting talking point--we can have fun spouting philosophy on the internet :^]P
My question:
Sarah is very much implied to have some kind of magic power. From the dialogue at the start to Jarith’s song, both mention her having powers. What are these powers, and are they just another part of her fantasy world?
Her powers are to call to the goblins I think
I will forever want a 2 movie where they end up together I know it's not the same but like I've already shipped them the moment I watch them together in the movie even if it's a povs or series I will forever want them to be together I love the this movie
That would be nice. By the end of the movie, she gets Toby back and everything goes back to normal, but there's no reason Jareth should disappear from her life forever.
Same but also she is 16 and he is an adult 😭
@@lavenderd3003 I'll bet Jareth would have waited for Sarah a couple of years and then we'd see a much different outcome with them.....
@çlõvêr_uñtāmêd no its cannon that the character is 16. Look it up
@@hollybarrington1046 that makes it still creepy because it feels like he would groom her
There is the moment where he asked her if he isn’t generous and said he is tired pf living up to ner expectations. Showing that he's just being what she wants or needs him to be for her good
There is a line towards the end that pretty much sums up Jareth's motivation in the story. "Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken. I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for *you*! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations. Isn't that generous?"
“What’s said is said”. 😂
Now whose fault is it Toby got taken away, sarah. She's the one that goes into Toby's room, and tells the Goblins to take him away. Then she has buyer's remorse, and tries to get Toby back. And from what I see Jared loved toby. In fact he was going to make him the next Goblin king, rather than turn him into a goblin like all the others. And from what I can see, Toby wasn't scared or even afraid of jared. Jared was treating Toby better than how Sarah was. And would have been so terrible if Jared kept toby, she could go back to her old life her parents wouldn't nagger about staying home, rather than going out because of the baby. And I'm pretty sure Jared would have erased the parents' memory of ever having toby. It was a win-win situation period. And Jared gets painted as the villain, because he makes Sara go through trials just to prove her determination and love for toby. And from what I can see, Jared was only trying to teach Sarah real life lessons. Things like things are never as easy as they seem, and you can't take anything for granted. And along the way, she found herself, and friends. Before that, she was just a High School Musical girl, who happened to daydream and want to loaf off all the time in her own fantasy world. If anything, Jared the goblin king, is a twisted Good Witch or very godmother. Even at the end of the labyrinth, Jared is still looking after Sarah and toby. And as far as I can tell, he has no revenge plot, or grudge. And you think Jared the goblin king, did it all for her, because she asked. So no, Jared is not the villain, Sarah is, or perhaps Sarah's parents. After all, they put Sarah in a position of being a cinderella. Which in fact, would make Jared her very godparent.
Yeah we're in agreement
I agree
Good analysis. I agree
I don't believe it was a dream.
No? Too many coincidences I'd say. Dream or not, Sarah learned the same lessons.
@@MetaCinema I am in the camp that it isn't a dream either. The ending scene proves that it isn't.
But I do think that all the hints of a dream, is very deliberate.
I would say that the film plays very much into it being a dream, but that it is more up to the viewer.
But if i had to put my money on something, it would be that it is a real, and the reason why there are so many hints, is because the goblin king and the underground, are all reflections of her expectations. In short, the goblin king don't look like David Bowie. He just appears as David Bowie becuase of Sarah.
@@And-ur6olplus in the manga sequel as it’s official till there’s an actual sequel ig (I hope not as david is dead) they make the underground real as Jareth works behind the scenes making Toby’s life easier for him and hopefully leads him back to make him his heir
Another thing he teaches her: the words we say *MATTER.*
"What's said is said."
"...ask the right question." (via Hoggle)
Holy shit you are a kindred soul, @MetaCinema! I got choked up at this. This movie is not just my absolute favorite movie, but also my favorite religious metaphor and has been for some time now, with Jareth as a representation of my interpretation of God. Jareth's face is even hidden throughout the labyrinth as Sarah progresses.
Very interesting observations and theory! Thank you for the comment
That's kind of funny, in a way, because one day - when I was watching it for the zillionth time - near the end Jareth says "Just fear me, love me, and I will be your slave!" and my mom said "you know who else talks like that? The Devil." It's been almost 30 years and that moment in time still irritates me. She may be right, but she didn't have to ruin my favorite part of the movie like that.
I admit your analysis is deep and brings a greater awareness. One I haven't heard from others.
I, too, feel Jareth was quite honorable. Which also makes him very likeable, actually. Life gives some really harsh lessons. Jareth's way of teaching her without giving more than she had the power to overcome once she gained confidence and learned life's values, was a form of kindness in its own right.
The more I concider your analysis, the more I admire Jareth.
TY.
She ASKED Jareth to take Toby. So no. ... it's not a dream.
Jareth is a symbol of Sarahs subconcious mind. The Labyrinth IS her mind.
Its full of symbols and even the toys from her room.
Its a story about becoming an adult, overcoming selfish and immature behavior. She learns a lot in the process of finding Toby: That possessions are not that important, that familiy matters, how not to take everything for granted, how to ask for permission, how to care for others, that life can be unfair and - thats where Jareth comes into play again - that the wish for being an adult is anything but good for a child.
Jareth confronts her with her inner chaos and is a symbol for her dreams and her childhood and wishes as well.
In the end she realizes that he/her immaturity have no power over her. That she is stronger than her childish wishes and behavior.
Its full of symbols and fascinating if you look at this movie from that point of view.
Even all the characters are symbols of childish behavior: Hoggle is a traitor and learns to be loyal, Sir Didimus is a coward and learns to be brave, Ludo is angry and cries like a baby who learns to become calm.
The goblins in the woods who dissemble themselves are a symbol for hedonism and self-destuctive behavior.
And so on.
jareth wouldent have done what he did if she didint wish toby away lol its all her fault and tbh he didint do anything evil in the movie
I agree and in the end she learned from her mistakes and taking things for granted
@@MetaCinema yeah
What always puzzles me, her dad hollers to ask her if she's home. They left her to babysit! So what has her step-mother been saying during the 4-5 hours they have been out for a date?
Well he call out twice, the first time saying they're home, and after she doesn't answer I guess he calls out again to make sure she's home? Kinda makes sense within context
Jareth did nothing wrong because he was only a figment of Sarah's imagination. Watch the guy in the picture of her mother she got in her bedroom. That is David Bowie! Her mother eloped with buddy actor Jeremy, which looked the same as Jareth..!
Actually he kinda is a villain. He's not completely all bad however he certainly isn't good just bc he kept to his word. That's like saying a manipulator is a good person bc they gave you something nice. Jareth stalks Sarah before she even wishes Tobey away. We see scenes earlier on in the film where he's watching her as a owl through her window and flying above her. This really isn't okay as he's immortal and she's fifteen. It'd make more sense to find another being like him or an adult as he seems to have stopped aging as an adult. Another thing; he did not want her to complete her trials. All through the movie he tries to get her to listen to HIS minions. He sent them and we see him say as much in the film. He also comes across as nice and sweet but also tries getting Sarah to fall victim to him and become his. He himself tries sabotaging her. Haggol worked for the goblin king and the goblin king threatened him and insulted him telling him Sarah would never want him. He's quite cruel to those who are not goblins. It's most likely he treated Tobey good bc he was relates to Sarah, the one he wanted? Tried manipulating? Tricking? Stalking?
Even in the ballroom scene he tries erasing her memory and manipulating her into believing she wants him (which is sick bc no one should he made to love someone)
When Sarah is in danger or about to be hurt he doesn't come to save her tho we know he is watching her. Which asks the question why risk her being hurt? Bc then the pain could slow her down or she could even become trapped. Like with the hands.
When she invades his city Jareth quite literally screams at his goblins to stop her and becomes quite violent when she actually passes a trial. He seems horrified she made it so far. Bc he wants her to be trapped with him. "It's only forever. Not long at all" that whole line shows how manipulative it is. "Forget about the baby" he literally tells her to forget about her brother (even tho he sees how desperately she wants him back) with the hope she'll stay with him.
When she completes the trials he looks like his ik despair. He did everything he could so she WOULDN'T pass bc he didn't want her to. That's why he's made to be (which he kinda is) the villain. Bc he's cruel, manipulative, aggressive, obsessive, little toxic, desperate for a 15 year old girls love and makes it difficult for her and her brother to escape purely bc his selfish desire. Let's also not forget he tells her he'll be her slave however she has to obey him and give herself to him. "Just let me rule you" that sounds more like she'll be his slave however in the situation you don't realize that. He says a lot more but I can't remember them all clearly. While Jareth does have his positives he definitely did something wrong. (Forcing love with an underaged girl. Manipulating her and her friends. Being cruel to others. Trying to turn a baby who didn't ask for it into a goblin why is the baby the target when the baby can't talk? Bc he has no right, no will. He can't fight Jareth back. Becoming aggressive when she'so close to success then in the final moments still tries to manipulate her before time runs out. ) he's a villain really tho he's not completely bad as he did stick to ONE thing which was the timer. We don't know if he isn't holding a grudge as he's in owl form watching her through the window like he was doing before. This could very well mean "I'll try again" he obsessive as we see throughout the film.
Jareth is the ultimate gaslighter.
He still did something wrong he kidnapped a baby and doesn't matter if Sarah wished it or not she's a teenager and he's a grown man knows better
Not if it WAS a dream
@@tamaracampbell6589 it wasn't that was proven at the end!
Jareth is a shapeshifting fae lord Goblin King. Sarah messed with magic, and had to follow the rules.
A- ha! So he wasn’t a villain after all. I knew it!
I was rewatching the movie and listening to the soundtrack to labyrinth and something about Underground got me thinking. What if and this is a big IF what if Sarah never saved Toby from Jareth and he raises Toby to be the next goblin king. Toby would have the powers to use the crystal balls to see how he would live with his family and travel through time and space? So that means Jareth is really a grown up Toby trying to get Sarah to save him.
I've seen several theories like this, that Jareth is really Toby trying to change the past, or that Jareth was just like Toby but his family didn't love him enough to get him back and that's why he makes it so hard for Sarah.
Long story short, Jareth is not a good guy. He is a mustache twirling villain that isn't used to NOT getting what he wants because he is a king and thinks himself above mortals. He abuses his power. Is it his fault he became like this because the Underground is all he knows? Probably not, but though future adventures of Sarah visiting the Labyrinth and calling the shots he might just become redeemed and the great ruler he was meant to be.
Another thing I see in the comments is people talking about Jareth like his goal was to teach her a lesson. No he wasn't intentionally teaching her anything. Sarah's character development throughout the movie is her own and was influenced by the characters around her. He just wanted a baby and for Sarah to either join him and be under his power forever or to die in the labyrinth so she won't be a bothering pest. He even tries to get rid of her in the first meeting. "Go back to your room, play with your toys and costumes. I'm offering you your dreams. forget about the baby." Now personally, I believe by the end of the movie, it's the magic of the Labyrinth that holds the terms of the deal in place, so Sarah going back home at the end of the movie wasn't an act of Jareth but an act of the Underground magic. Also I do think that by the end of the movie there is a small inkling of genuine begging from Jareth for Sarah to stay because he saw how hard she was fighting to get Toby back he thought she could love him the same way.
But she was awake the whole time when it was going on I just want to add this to my comment so you know that she was awake the whole tire time she was not dreaming this will become as a dream for Toby but not her but she won’t remember that she’s going through that that’s why it’s known as a dreamworld in underground dreamworld that’s where the goblin kingdom lies the underground the underground with the crystals and illusions and all those themes I just want to all these things happen when she was awake she was not asleep but it’ll be as a dream for Toby because he’s way too young to know what’s going on but as for Sarah Jennifer Connelly is concerned it will always be known as an allusion to her but she will not remember that she has gone through it because everything went back to normal so you should think about that like I said this is just in addition to my comment to you that shows like the whole tire time
Here , , , , , , , , , . . . . . . . . . . . Some commas and full stops for future. Use them.
We can try to justify narratively and species-wise (since he's a goblin and fey have different moral standards) but by that definition he's still a bad guy because he's interacting with humans. Sarah /obviously/ didn't know her brother would be taken away, she just lashed out as I'm sure all siblings get (and screaming babies tear away at everyone's patience). Doesn't mean she actually WANTS her brother kidnapped. She freaks out the /second/ her brother stops crying and BEGS Jareth to give him back. And sure, she learns a valuable life lesson through the journey but again--HE KIDNAPPED A BABY. A baby he planned on non-consensually turning into a goblin if Sarah didn't survive (and I genuinely mean survive. Don't let the puppets or pop-songs fool you from how fucking dangerous the Labyrinth is) the gauntlet. And then there are the creepy predatory-pedo-vibes in the climax/when Sarah's in the bubble dream....It's beautifully written given the narrative of the story and David Bowie's a brilliant musician/actor but....yikes. Just yikes.
What makes Jareth 'good' is how he serves the story; and acts in accordance to his role. But the same can be said for the Firelord in Avatar. After all, Zuko inadvertently insulted him in his war-room, so to defend his honor he fights his own son in an Agni Kai. Not his fault Zuko didn't know it would happen or that he refused to fight. He scars his son and banishes him, which ultimately sets Zuko on a path of self-discovery and turns him into a better person and the perfect firelord in the end...so he's a good guy--right?
It's easier to try and justify Jareth because he's played by the charismatic David Bowie, but look beyond the Ziggy Stardust and actually look at what the character does and it's not good. Maybe by goblin standards, sure, but we're not goblins. If we're going to analyze Jareth through a human moral lens we can't twist it to fit his. And JUST because Sarah comes out better in the end, doesn't justify what he's done. After all, you can learn and grow from shitty situations or by dealing with shitty people. That still doesn't excuse that person in the first place.
I didn't mean for this to be a long rant and I can't tell if this video is being serious or trolling (2:02-2:06), but the glossing over issues trying to moralize what is essentially an ancient, all powerful dictator taking advantage and toying with a 16 year old just because she's mad she has to babysit is...troubling. It's GREAT for a story but by justifying the villain sets a bad pattern for real-life.
He didn't kidnap Tobey, Sarah called him to take her brother away
Why would you think the goblin king did nothing wrong when his just Gretchen a wish that should never been said and he was afraid to tell her that picture for what you wish for and yes I would agree with you that he did do nothing wrong but the thing is he’s innocent and all this just want to have some fun with the kid and mess with Sarah‘s mind with allusions and others happen to her when she was taken out of space and time thrown into a dreamworld down in the underground beyond the storm that thunderstorm that is where Toby went and wire magic rules the goblin king represents a realm of magic and with crystals down in the underground beyond the thunderstorm end it all goes down to this
Crystal room
Dreamworld
Underground
Thunderstorm
Goblin kingdom
And that is the government city where Jareth the King of the goblins and yes I agree he’s innocent but you have to understand that kidnapping is not an innocent thing to do but it’s not as bad when you just ask for something asking selfishly is wrong then yes he will be innocent it to that but he’s also guilty of trying to stop her The goblin King is a Master of illusions so I haven’t her and going and time beyond space of time where nothing makes sense that he’s back to what I said when it comes to this list
Dreamworld
Crystal room
Underground
Thunderstorm
Goblin kingdom
All this represents the kingdom all the goblins was governed by a goblin king and yes they did he use David boy as the king of the goblins but he is also the king of the Doblins is a master of illusion so what has happened to Sarah was really happening and Toby was like oh that’s no more but a dream that is the illusion so I now understand your video when he was talking about it so maybe you can go more in depth of the film itself and use my comment that I said here so well for your video so no I am giving you a video to do for free and do so be if you want to
I don't have much by way of rebuttal but thanks for your comments