Orphan Black and the Heroine's Journey: Symbols, Depth Psychology, and the Feminist Epic - Paperback

by Valerie Estelle Frankel (Author)

On the heroine's journey, the young woman quests for autonomy, with adversaries who reflect her shadow side. They polarize with her, evoking different aspects of the personality. Wrestling with these figures and achieving a rapprochement, the heroine discovers all the untapped potential and hidden strength that lies within. BBC's Orphan Black follows this perfectly. Sarah Manning discovers she's a clone when she meets her identical copy, Beth, and sees her commit suicide. Through the first season, Sarah plays Beth, learning discipline and responsibility. All this gives her the strength to grapple with her wild sister Helena and evil sister Rachel as she battles the patriarchy in an ancient feminist clash. This book analyzes the symbols and inner life of the five main characters' journeys, along with some of the lesser Ledas, as all seek the power of a united sisterhood.

Author Biography

Valerie Estelle Frankel is the author of many books on pop culture, including Doctor Who - The What, Where, and How, Sherlock: Every Canon Reference You May Have Missed in BBC's Series 1-3, History, Homages and the Highlands: An Outlander Guide, and How Game of Thrones Will End. Many of her books focus on women's roles in fiction, from her heroine's journey guides From Girl to Goddess and Buffy and the Heroine's Journey to books like Superheroines and the Epic Journey and The Many Faces of Katniss Everdeen. Once a lecturer at San Jose State University, she's a frequent speaker at conferences. Come explore her research at www.vefrankel.com.