Abstract
Stories progress toward a culminating event which provides the most substantial test the Protagonist faces in their journey. In a narrative featuring a unity arc, their success in this ultimate challenge represents the synthesis of their conscious goal and unconscious goal. They can only win the day by using intellectual and emotional wisdom they have discovered from allies along the way and fully embrace the emerging power of their true self. This movement toward wholeness represents an experience of unity. This chapter considers the last stage in the journeys of the Protagonists from The Silence of the Lambs, Breaking Bad, Shakespeare in Love, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
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Notes
- 1.
See Chapter 2: Character Arc for other types of character metamorphosis.
- 2.
As opposed to the disintegration arc as noted in Chapter 2 with such characters as Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane and Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver.
- 3.
In both Rocky and The Natural, the Protagonists discover romance along the way and in the case of Roy Hobbs, the satisfaction of fatherhood. The bond between Protagonist and Attractor often caps off the emotional passage of the Protagonist from disunity to unity.
- 4.
Jacob Stolworthy, “Lost ending explained: What actually went down in the most misunderstood finale of all time,” The Independent, May 22, 2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/lost-ending-explained-finale-jj-abrams-damon-lindelof-anniversary-what-happened-a8365081.html.
- 5.
Ibid., p. 116.
- 6.
The “W” stands for Walter White.
- 7.
There is an eighteenth episode in Season Four: “Yes, It’s Really Us Singing: The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Concert Special!”.
- 8.
This redeems himself for not having been able to save Peter Parker’s life earlier.
- 9.
C. G. Jung, “Psychology and Religion: West and East,” Collected Works XI (Princeton University Press, 1975), para. 390, p. 258.
Further Study
Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “The Silence of the Lambs,” Scott Myers (editor), Go Into The Story, August 2, 2017, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-story-script-reading-analysis-the-silence-of-the-lambs-43d09a5c9198.
Every Episode of Breaking Bad, Ranked, Kimberly Potts, Vulture, 2018, https://www.vulture.com/article/breaking-bad-best-episodes-ranked.html.
Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Shakespeare in Love,” Scott Myers (editor), Go Into The Story, July 31, 2017, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-story-script-reading-analysis-shakespeare-in-love-515e9e5c0ba4.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Vulture, https://www.vulture.com/tv/crazy-ex-girlfriend/.
Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” Scott Myers (editor), Go Into The Story, April 9, 2019, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-story-script-reading-analysis-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-4d37bc47127c.
References
Bloom, R and Brosh McKenna, A (creator) (2015–2019). Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; The CW Network.
Gilligan, V (creator) (2008–2013). Breaking Bad; American Movie Classics (AMC).
Jung, C. G. (1975). “Psychology and Religion: West and East,” Collected Works XI; Princeton University Press.
Lord, P and Rothman, R (screenplay), Lord P (story) (2018). Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Marvel Entertainment / Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Norman, M and Stoppard, T (written by) (1998). Shakespeare in Love; Miramax Films.
Tally, T (screenplay), Harris, T (novel) (1991). The Silence of the Lambs; Orion Pictures.
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Myers, S. (2022). Unity. In: The Protagonist's Journey. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79682-2_6
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