Jasper
Mar 5th, 2011 by Jennie Malone
Jasper’s Transformation (Ant Level and Cloud Level Transformation)
(For an explanation of “ant level” and “cloud level” perspectives, see the link for “Fate and Destiny” http://twilightsagaarchetypes.com/fate-and-destiny/.)
Aside from the Addict archetype clearly represented by Jasper’s character, which will be discussed further below, Jasper undergoes a profound transformation just as the other characters. Throughout the series, he is credited with a talent for being able to calm the mood of a person or a crowd. He can manipulate the surrounding energy to complement whatever would best assist the person or the situation.
In the end of the series, though, Bella asks Edward why Jasper is still hovering so closely after she clearly has demonstrated adequate restraint as a newborn vampire, and why he still questions her ability to control her new primal urges. Edward corrects her and explains that Jasper no longer questions her ability to control herself (he still does not understand it because of his Addict archetype, but he no longer doubts her); Edward explains Jasper hovers because he senses Bella’s pure and unconditional joy, and Jasper wants to be in the presence of such energy.
The lesson is that divinely pure joy and calmness of mind and spirit cannot be fabricated or manipulated. It is real and authentic, and it cannot be mimicked. Jasper is extremely talented at what he does, and he no doubt serves to help many people with his gift by projecting calm and peace of mind for them, but he sees first-hand (and learns) at the end that real peace and real joy can only be authentic when they come from within.
Jasper’s Addict
From an archetypal perspective, Jasper demonstrates the collective characteristics of the Addict’s struggle – the shame, the self-fulfilling prophecy of failure/defeat, the apparent inability to control choices, the jealousy of another person when they learn to “break” the pattern you can’t, the struggle in every moment of every day to abstain from the addiction, the low self-esteem, the self-loathing, and the struggle the addiction creates within the rest of the family when they want to help but aren’t sure how. Fundamentally, Jasper represents the Addict archetype for all of us to see in the mirror, whether it’s food, drugs, alcohol, control, power, chaos, perfection, human blood, whatever…the Addict archetype shines a spotlight on the dark and difficult struggles that addicts of ALL types deal with every day — and I love Jasper’s character because of it.
The good news for Jasper is that like with all addicts, they CAN learn to heal themselves when they choose to see a new perspective. Jasper struggles with Bella’s new (and immediate) ability to fight the temptations that Jasper has battled for decades, but in Bella’s triumph, Jasper sees that triumph is POSSIBLE — that it’s about seeing his OWN choices and his OWN abilities with more clarity — and ultimately with hope. Hope is critical for every Addict, and Stephenie’s depiction of Jasper’s Addict is brilliant and insightful and inspiring!!