Abstract
Abstract The theme of my thesis is to elaborate Ripley’s transformation in Alien series. From Alien to Alien Resurrection, Ripley’s status transforms from an alien terminator to an alien mother. The transformation is not only presented in her status but also in her relationship with the aliens. Ripley and the aliens are enemies in the beginning of the Alien series. However, their opponent relation transforms to be mother-and-children in the end. Ripley’s ironic transformation seems to be a coincident caused by four different directors’ presentation. Yet, the transformation has an insightful connection with the influence of the aliens. And in this thesis, I will illustrate how Ripley’s transformation has an intimate connection with the aliens with concepts of the phallic mother, the abjection and mother-daughter dyad. The opening chapter introduces preparations of each Alien film and concentrates on how these directors create the frightening atmosphere in the Alien series. By focusing on different shooting styles, I single out that the frightening atmosphere is highlighted by concealing the aliens in the dark in Alien; increasing the number of the aliens in Aliens; reinforcing the sense of desperation in Alien3 and breaking through the boundary between Ripley and the aliens in Alien Resurrection. Chapter two is devoted to the scenario of these four films. By examining the details of the scenario, I will highlight several controversial episodes. First of all, I discuss Ripley’s refusal to open the hatch for her partners who investigate the unknown planet. From this episode, I elaborate Ripley’s personality and associate her reaction with the final girl for further discussing her fear and trauma. Then I focus on the episodes in which Ripley neglects the peril for rescuing a cat, Jones, and the girl, Newt. And these episodes help us to be aware of Ripley’s maternal instinct. Finally, the relationship between Ripley and the alien will be mentioned. Through observing the ending of every films, I notice that Ripley and the aliens are getting closer and closer in distance which reflects on the more and more intimate of their connection. By discussing these questions, I reach the conclusion that these three elements, Ripley’s fear, maternal instinct and her intimate connection with the aliens, are firmly associated with each other. Chapter three deals with the fear in the Alien series with the concept of he phallic mother and Kristeva’s concept of the abjection. This chapter will begin with discussing the frightening atmosphere in the Alien series by introducing the distorted maternal body with theories of Freud, Melanie Klein and Julia Kristeva. These theorists single out that the children twists the mother’s image by fantasizing her as the phallic mother. The phallic mother and her distorted maternal body, especially her sexual organs such as the womb or the vagina, are evoked to be threatening monsters haunting the children. That’s why the aliens can arouse the uneasy or the horror of the audience and the crew members in the films. These outer space monsters are the embodiments of the phallic mother. When Barbara Creed draws on Kristeva’s concept of the abjection to analyze the aliens, she regards these aliens as the abject. According to Kristeva, the abject comes from children’s fantasy over the pre-oedipal mother that represents something that should be ejected. As a result, each Alien film always end with ejecting the aliens out of the spaceship, according to Kristeva, is the rituals of purification. Chapter Four will take care of Ripley’s complex characteristics, which include the characteristics of the ideal mother and the phallic mother. According to her maternal instinct in Alien and Aliens, Ripley stands for an ideal mother. But the reason for protecting Jones and Newt means more than presenting her maternal instinct. It connects with the lack in Ripley. And Jones and Newt are the substitute to make up for the lack. Besides, Ripley, in Alien series, presents not only her ideal mother characteristics but also her phallic power in her leadership and in her dominating desire over Jones and Newt. Her phallic power is not aroused by her personality. That also connects with the influence of the phallic mother. In the end, I also concentrate on Ripley’s transformation and associate it with the influence of the phallic mother. According to my personal opinion, Ripley in Alien Resurrection is not a freak or a monster. She is a unique female character containing the characteristics of the ideal mother and the phallic mother. Chapter five summarizes the discussion in other four chapters and points out insufficient discussion in some paradoxical episodes and the difficulties in obtaining historical and political materials. In reviewing these issues, I expect to rethink Ripley and her unique transformation.