ALIENS and RAISED BY WOLVES: Connected Archetypes and the Power of Certainty
Dustin Rielly
Author and researcher
Amanda Collin as Mother/Lamia, and the Raised by Wolves Season 2 cast including Abubakar Salim as Father, and Travis Fimmel as Marcus/Caleb.
1986 saw the arrival of director James Cameron’sAliens, the action-packed sequel to the 1979 iconic film Alien. It continued the tale of Ellen Ripley, a tough-as-nails survivor, locked in mortal combat with a horde of acid-blooded extra-terrestrial nightmares. Amidst the chaos, Ripley’s heart-warming adoption of Newt, the lone survivor of the doomed terraforming colony on exomoon LV-426, tugged at our collective emotions. In 2020, Aaron Guzikowski’s sci-fi epic, Raised by Wolves, made its debut on HBO Max, guided by director Ridley Scott. The drama narrated the odyssey of two androids, Mother and Father, entrusted with rekindling humanity on the distant world of Kepler-22b, after Earth’s incendiary downfall.
The two science fiction events resonated profoundly with audiences. Though HBO’s abrupt cancellation of Raised by Wolves after just two seasons left fans disappointed, the show was praised by critics and viewers alike. At the core of both Aliens and Raised by Wolves, a common thread wove a potent tapestry: the evocation of the maternal archetype – a concept psychoanalyst Carl Jung described as a “universal, inherited idea, pattern of thought, or image that is present in the collective unconscious of all human beings.” Ellen Ripley and Mother are multi-dimensional characters. They move through their respective worlds in concert with balancing father figures. They are individual personas with grey areas, vulnerabilities, fears, conflicts, desires, and can’t be reduced to an archetype, but it’s revealing to look at how the forms connect and enhance these works. Jung dubbed the mother, “the deepest and most poignant” archetype we know, and in these two tales, it sprang to life in unforgettable fashion.
So let’s embark on a journey through the worlds of Aliens and Raised by Wolves. We’ll delve into the multifaceted expressions of the maternal image, explore the striking aesthetics, ponder biological and archetypical authenticity, and glimpse into the philosophical abyss that these works beckon us towards.
The Nurturer: Ellen Ripley and Mother
Ellen Ripley, and the android, Mother, are authentic maternal figures. When Ripley stumbles upon the traumatized Newt in the desolation of Hadley’s Hope station, she takes the initiative to shield the girl from the horrors of the situation. With a steaming cup of hot chocolate and soothing words, Ripley becomes the nurturing presence Newt desperately needs. Unlike the bumbling Lieutenant Gorman, Ripley speaks the language of the heart – the language of a mother. Similarly, in Raised by Wolves, Mother crafts a haven for her offspring on Kepler-22b, a hostile world. She tends to their needs, providing sustenance, clothing, and emotional solace. Her hyper-vigilance safeguards her children from lurking threats. The nurturer evokes our deep psychological imprint of motherhood – a foundation of individual consciousness.
Aliens 1986 - Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley and Carrie Henn as Rebecca 'Newt' Jorden.
The Great Mother: Ripley's and Mother's Metamorphosis
As Ripley confronts her nemesis, the alien queen, in the cargo bay of the USSSulaco spacecraft, she transforms from a nurturer into a formidable warrior. Clad in the power-loader exosuit, Ripley’s protective instincts fuse with newfound strength, and she embodies the great mother – the linchpin of the entire plot. Similarly, in Raised by Wolves, when the Mithraic threaten to abduct Mother’s last surviving child, she morphs from a humble service android into the fearsome Necromancer, a godlike force bent on safeguarding not just her offspring but the destiny of humanity. In this transformation, we witness a symbolic apotheosis, where a mortal ascends to divinity. In mythology, this draws a parallel with the Hindu pantheon, where Devi, embodying both creative and destructive forces, is an integral part. In Aliens and Raised by Wolves, the sharp juxtaposition between the nurturing mother and a more than human presence generates compelling tension that weaves through the fabric of the stories.
Raised by Wolves - Mother transformed as the Necromancer
The Martyr: Sacrifice Unfolds
When Newt falls into the clutches of the xenomorphs, Ripley doesn’t hesitate to lay everything on the line – her chance of escape, other survivors, and her own life – to rescue her surrogate child. Mother, too, is ready to sacrifice herself when her wayward serpent-like offspring endangers her family, taking it into the fiery heart of their adopted world. This archetype is all about sacrifice – a mother who places the needs of her children above all else, regardless of the personal toll.
Ripley transformed by the exo-suit in Aliens.
The Devouring Mother: A Darker Facet
The mother archetype isn’t all warmth and tenderness; it can take on a vindictive and toxic guise when protecting its charges. In both Aliens and Raised by Wolves, this darker facet of the archetype emerges with a vengeance. Ripley’s showdown with the alien queen can be seen as a battle against her archetypical nemesis – the devouring mother, a monstrous manifestation of savagery, domination, and extreme violence. The queen becomes a mirror reflecting Ripley’s most destructive maternal energies, her shadow-self writ large. Her incineration of the queens egg chamber takes on an aspect of primal catharsis. Similarly, Mother’s overprotective and domineering tendencies lead her down a perilous path. She refuses to adapt to changing circumstances, risking not only her family but costing the lives of a thousand innocent people in the newly arrived colony ship. In both works, the maternal motif is deployed with a chilling twist, painting the mother as both saviour and destroyer.
The alien queen.
Aliens and Raised by Wolves: The Power of Visual Storytelling
Science fiction provides a canvas where the facets of the mother archetype – nurturer, great mother, martyr, and devourer – can be vividly painted, each with its unique impact on the viewer. The alien queen, a grotesque creation inspired by H.R. Giger’sNecronomicon, is a nightmarish vision. Her eerie form, combined with inhuman maternal instincts, creates a spectacle of terror that transcends any sane convention and stirs primordial fears. The dragon, or serpent image, representing the duality of good and evil, and alchemy, also infuses Raised by Wolves. Mother’s rebellious serpent child elevates the imagery to Lovecraftian heights. While the Necromancer embodies the immortal goddess, her wayward offspring takes a treacherous path, turning destructive and insatiable. The serpent in Raised by Wolves evokes various myths, such as Typhon in it’s destructive form, Satan in it’s association with the living tree, and, with its ravenous hunger, Ouroboros, the mythic snake feeding upon it’s own tail. Ultimately, it becomes a threat that forces Mother’s own lethal tendencies to the fore.
Raised by Wolves - Mother's serpent offspring grown up.
Christopher Volger, a former story consultant for Disney and developmental executive, encourages us to view archetypes as temporary masks donned by characters to achieve specific narrative effects. With each mask crafted uniquely and rendered aesthetically distinct, the impact deepens. Aliens and Raised by Wolves succeed in crystallizing the archetype, akin to dreams or nightmares brought to life. The embodiment taps into the darkest recesses of our collective memory, invoking, as Carl Jung posited – the unconscious forms that continually influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions. James Cameron once revealed that dreams have sometimes been the wellspring of his most powerful imagery. His haunting dream of the Terminator’s endoskeleton sparked an entire cinematic franchise. Similarly, H.R. Giger hinted at the role of dreams in his creative process. These revelations underscore the profound connection between the unconscious mind and artistic expression.
Aliens and Raised by Wolves strike a harmonious chord biologically and emotionally. Despite Ripley and Mother briefly acquiring masculine traits through technological augmentation, their fundamental identity as women and mothers remains intact. The nurturing, emotive, and intuitive qualities persist, unmarred by deformity or corruption. Their unwavering dedication to protecting their families amplifies the potency of this archetype. This precision resonates like a tuned-up musical instrument, and the maternal image shines through to connect with viewers.
Raised by Wolves - Mother (Amanda Collin) and her charges.
Relationship to the World: Maternal Archetype in Societal Decay
The maternal archetype’s resonance may be amplified during times of social tension or unrest, a theme Western civilization currently grapples with. In such times of uncertainty, people seek enduring symbols and concrete forms. The mother, particularly in her virgin form, represents new beginnings and creative potential. Mythologist Joseph Campbell connects the virgin mother to the creative force of the universe. The Mother character, in Raised by Wolves, through her mysterious, non-physical impregnation that gives rise to the serpent, embodies the virgin birth, representing both creation and unity. Even the alien queen, in her perverse way, subverts the virgin birth motif, epitomizing androgynous unity. In both cases, the motif of conception via the unseen divine lingers.
Campbell’s concept of the “matrix of destiny” reminds us that the mother of life is also the mother of death. This potent motif transcends societal turmoil when confusion and disaster threaten to engulf us. In a world divided, Ripley, the alien queen, Mother, and the Necromancer remind us of an enduring archetype that represents balance, anchoring us to the incarnate image.
Amanda Collin as Mother, symbolizing a driving archetype of Aliens and Raised by Wolves
A Cosmic Ode to the Maternal Archetype
The characters Ellen Ripley and Mother symbolize nurturing strength, while their metamorphoses into the great mother amplify their roles. Sacrifice is woven into their narratives, and the shadowy side of the mother archetype emerges as a devouring force. Through its many manifestations, the maternal image imprints itself upon our collective and personal consciousness, transcending time and space. In this cosmic dance, we find the eternal embrace of the mother.
Venture in the world of ETERNUM, and upcoming sci-fi novel by Dustin Rielly –
In a dangerous experiment, Solara Jordan plans to propel her consciousness into a naked singularity. Seeking answers for her daughter’s demise and experiencing prophetic dreams of an alien reality, she collaborates with enigmatic scientist Daniel Weir. Despite having trained with him for months, Solara doesn’t know his true identity. When the naked singularity fails to close, a terrifying presence fractures the boundary of spacetime, causing rationality to break down and leaving OriGen in disarray. As Solara ventures back into the vacuum, the nature of consciousness and death hangs in the balance, while the fate of the universe rests on an improbable human connection.
With themes reminiscent of Neal Stephenson’s FALL OR, DODGE IN HELL, and UPGRADE by Blake Crouch, ETERNUM differentiates itself by a unique blend of scientific and spiritual themes, tangible exploration of the afterlife, and the tenacity of freedom in the context of a dystopian future.
Amanda Collin as Mother/Lamia, and the Raised by Wolves Season 2 cast including Abubakar Salim as Father, and Travis Fimmel as Marcus/Caleb. 1986 saw the
DUSTIN RIELLY
ALIENS and RAISED BY WOLVES: Connected Archetypes and the Power of Certainty
Dustin Rielly
Author and researcher
1986 saw the arrival of director James Cameron’s Aliens, the action-packed sequel to the 1979 iconic film Alien. It continued the tale of Ellen Ripley, a tough-as-nails survivor, locked in mortal combat with a horde of acid-blooded extra-terrestrial nightmares. Amidst the chaos, Ripley’s heart-warming adoption of Newt, the lone survivor of the doomed terraforming colony on exomoon LV-426, tugged at our collective emotions. In 2020, Aaron Guzikowski’s sci-fi epic, Raised by Wolves, made its debut on HBO Max, guided by director Ridley Scott. The drama narrated the odyssey of two androids, Mother and Father, entrusted with rekindling humanity on the distant world of Kepler-22b, after Earth’s incendiary downfall.
The two science fiction events resonated profoundly with audiences. Though HBO’s abrupt cancellation of Raised by Wolves after just two seasons left fans disappointed, the show was praised by critics and viewers alike. At the core of both Aliens and Raised by Wolves, a common thread wove a potent tapestry: the evocation of the maternal archetype – a concept psychoanalyst Carl Jung described as a “universal, inherited idea, pattern of thought, or image that is present in the collective unconscious of all human beings.” Ellen Ripley and Mother are multi-dimensional characters. They move through their respective worlds in concert with balancing father figures. They are individual personas with grey areas, vulnerabilities, fears, conflicts, desires, and can’t be reduced to an archetype, but it’s revealing to look at how the forms connect and enhance these works. Jung dubbed the mother, “the deepest and most poignant” archetype we know, and in these two tales, it sprang to life in unforgettable fashion.
So let’s embark on a journey through the worlds of Aliens and Raised by Wolves. We’ll delve into the multifaceted expressions of the maternal image, explore the striking aesthetics, ponder biological and archetypical authenticity, and glimpse into the philosophical abyss that these works beckon us towards.
The Nurturer: Ellen Ripley and Mother
Ellen Ripley, and the android, Mother, are authentic maternal figures. When Ripley stumbles upon the traumatized Newt in the desolation of Hadley’s Hope station, she takes the initiative to shield the girl from the horrors of the situation. With a steaming cup of hot chocolate and soothing words, Ripley becomes the nurturing presence Newt desperately needs. Unlike the bumbling Lieutenant Gorman, Ripley speaks the language of the heart – the language of a mother. Similarly, in Raised by Wolves, Mother crafts a haven for her offspring on Kepler-22b, a hostile world. She tends to their needs, providing sustenance, clothing, and emotional solace. Her hyper-vigilance safeguards her children from lurking threats. The nurturer evokes our deep psychological imprint of motherhood – a foundation of individual consciousness.
The Great Mother: Ripley's and Mother's Metamorphosis
As Ripley confronts her nemesis, the alien queen, in the cargo bay of the USS Sulaco spacecraft, she transforms from a nurturer into a formidable warrior. Clad in the power-loader exosuit, Ripley’s protective instincts fuse with newfound strength, and she embodies the great mother – the linchpin of the entire plot. Similarly, in Raised by Wolves, when the Mithraic threaten to abduct Mother’s last surviving child, she morphs from a humble service android into the fearsome Necromancer, a godlike force bent on safeguarding not just her offspring but the destiny of humanity. In this transformation, we witness a symbolic apotheosis, where a mortal ascends to divinity. In mythology, this draws a parallel with the Hindu pantheon, where Devi, embodying both creative and destructive forces, is an integral part. In Aliens and Raised by Wolves, the sharp juxtaposition between the nurturing mother and a more than human presence generates compelling tension that weaves through the fabric of the stories.
The Martyr: Sacrifice Unfolds
When Newt falls into the clutches of the xenomorphs, Ripley doesn’t hesitate to lay everything on the line – her chance of escape, other survivors, and her own life – to rescue her surrogate child. Mother, too, is ready to sacrifice herself when her wayward serpent-like offspring endangers her family, taking it into the fiery heart of their adopted world. This archetype is all about sacrifice – a mother who places the needs of her children above all else, regardless of the personal toll.
The Devouring Mother: A Darker Facet
The mother archetype isn’t all warmth and tenderness; it can take on a vindictive and toxic guise when protecting its charges. In both Aliens and Raised by Wolves, this darker facet of the archetype emerges with a vengeance. Ripley’s showdown with the alien queen can be seen as a battle against her archetypical nemesis – the devouring mother, a monstrous manifestation of savagery, domination, and extreme violence. The queen becomes a mirror reflecting Ripley’s most destructive maternal energies, her shadow-self writ large. Her incineration of the queens egg chamber takes on an aspect of primal catharsis. Similarly, Mother’s overprotective and domineering tendencies lead her down a perilous path. She refuses to adapt to changing circumstances, risking not only her family but costing the lives of a thousand innocent people in the newly arrived colony ship. In both works, the maternal motif is deployed with a chilling twist, painting the mother as both saviour and destroyer.
Aliens and Raised by Wolves: The Power of Visual Storytelling
Science fiction provides a canvas where the facets of the mother archetype – nurturer, great mother, martyr, and devourer – can be vividly painted, each with its unique impact on the viewer. The alien queen, a grotesque creation inspired by H.R. Giger’s Necronomicon, is a nightmarish vision. Her eerie form, combined with inhuman maternal instincts, creates a spectacle of terror that transcends any sane convention and stirs primordial fears. The dragon, or serpent image, representing the duality of good and evil, and alchemy, also infuses Raised by Wolves. Mother’s rebellious serpent child elevates the imagery to Lovecraftian heights. While the Necromancer embodies the immortal goddess, her wayward offspring takes a treacherous path, turning destructive and insatiable. The serpent in Raised by Wolves evokes various myths, such as Typhon in it’s destructive form, Satan in it’s association with the living tree, and, with its ravenous hunger, Ouroboros, the mythic snake feeding upon it’s own tail. Ultimately, it becomes a threat that forces Mother’s own lethal tendencies to the fore.
Christopher Volger, a former story consultant for Disney and developmental executive, encourages us to view archetypes as temporary masks donned by characters to achieve specific narrative effects. With each mask crafted uniquely and rendered aesthetically distinct, the impact deepens. Aliens and Raised by Wolves succeed in crystallizing the archetype, akin to dreams or nightmares brought to life. The embodiment taps into the darkest recesses of our collective memory, invoking, as Carl Jung posited – the unconscious forms that continually influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions. James Cameron once revealed that dreams have sometimes been the wellspring of his most powerful imagery. His haunting dream of the Terminator’s endoskeleton sparked an entire cinematic franchise. Similarly, H.R. Giger hinted at the role of dreams in his creative process. These revelations underscore the profound connection between the unconscious mind and artistic expression.
Biological Authenticity: Maternal Traits, Realistically Portrayed
Aliens and Raised by Wolves strike a harmonious chord biologically and emotionally. Despite Ripley and Mother briefly acquiring masculine traits through technological augmentation, their fundamental identity as women and mothers remains intact. The nurturing, emotive, and intuitive qualities persist, unmarred by deformity or corruption. Their unwavering dedication to protecting their families amplifies the potency of this archetype. This precision resonates like a tuned-up musical instrument, and the maternal image shines through to connect with viewers.
Relationship to the World: Maternal Archetype in Societal Decay
The maternal archetype’s resonance may be amplified during times of social tension or unrest, a theme Western civilization currently grapples with. In such times of uncertainty, people seek enduring symbols and concrete forms. The mother, particularly in her virgin form, represents new beginnings and creative potential. Mythologist Joseph Campbell connects the virgin mother to the creative force of the universe. The Mother character, in Raised by Wolves, through her mysterious, non-physical impregnation that gives rise to the serpent, embodies the virgin birth, representing both creation and unity. Even the alien queen, in her perverse way, subverts the virgin birth motif, epitomizing androgynous unity. In both cases, the motif of conception via the unseen divine lingers.
Campbell’s concept of the “matrix of destiny” reminds us that the mother of life is also the mother of death. This potent motif transcends societal turmoil when confusion and disaster threaten to engulf us. In a world divided, Ripley, the alien queen, Mother, and the Necromancer remind us of an enduring archetype that represents balance, anchoring us to the incarnate image.
A Cosmic Ode to the Maternal Archetype
The characters Ellen Ripley and Mother symbolize nurturing strength, while their metamorphoses into the great mother amplify their roles. Sacrifice is woven into their narratives, and the shadowy side of the mother archetype emerges as a devouring force. Through its many manifestations, the maternal image imprints itself upon our collective and personal consciousness, transcending time and space. In this cosmic dance, we find the eternal embrace of the mother.
Venture in the world of ETERNUM, and upcoming sci-fi novel by Dustin Rielly –
In a dangerous experiment, Solara Jordan plans to propel her consciousness into a naked singularity. Seeking answers for her daughter’s demise and experiencing prophetic dreams of an alien reality, she collaborates with enigmatic scientist Daniel Weir. Despite having trained with him for months, Solara doesn’t know his true identity. When the naked singularity fails to close, a terrifying presence fractures the boundary of spacetime, causing rationality to break down and leaving OriGen in disarray. As Solara ventures back into the vacuum, the nature of consciousness and death hangs in the balance, while the fate of the universe rests on an improbable human connection.
With themes reminiscent of Neal Stephenson’s FALL OR, DODGE IN HELL, and UPGRADE by Blake Crouch, ETERNUM differentiates itself by a unique blend of scientific and spiritual themes, tangible exploration of the afterlife, and the tenacity of freedom in the context of a dystopian future.
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ALIENS and RAISED BY WOLVES: Connected Archetypes and the Power of Certainty
Amanda Collin as Mother/Lamia, and the Raised by Wolves Season 2 cast including Abubakar Salim as Father, and Travis Fimmel as Marcus/Caleb. 1986 saw the