The film “The Mummy” from 1932 starring Boris Karloff is an iconic movie that paved a way for many horror movies in the future that deal with an undead phenomenon from ancient Egypt. This movie setting takes place in Cairo Egypt. The plot involves a dead Egyptian priest that was revived through the reading of a cursed scroll by an archeologist. The mummy whose name is Imhotep seeks to reunite with his lost love princess Ankh-es-en-amon who was reincarnated as a normal woman. The mummy attempts to make his now reincarnated lover remember her past life.
One of the main themes that can be examined from a psychoanalytical perspective is the idea of forbidden love. A 3700 year old man rising from the grave to try and reunite with a woman in her 20’s is bonkers in a modern perspective. This is an idea of breaking societal norms and going after love that is not accepted by the majority. Another theme presented is transformation. This can represent the rebirth of someone adding to a perspective of growth. The depiction of this idea is presented through the mummy coming back to life in order to finish unfinished business. This can resign-ate to a viewers need to kill a part of their past self in order to accomplish their desire.
In conclusion, this movie is deeper than just what we may see as a simple scary movie but actually presenting characters that embody our emotions and mentality. From a psychoanalytical perspective, the mummy is clearly representing breaking through societal stereotypes and barriers through seeking forbidden love. Also analyzing it from a wider view the completion of his mission is a result of his rebirth. Maybe we all have to go through some sort of transformation and rebirth to achieve success in what we desire.
I really like your analysis and I think the movie you picked was really interesting. I think the transformation aspect definitely applies to this movie especially since one character rises from the dead and is convinced he will find the love that isn’t accepted by society.
I like how you were to show the love between both characters because in the mummy’s perspective he is in love with a women after being revived, but in the woman’s perspective, she would be seen as someone who is crazy and not in the right mind in modern times like you said which proves the psychoanalysis behind the film.
I agree with your analysis of forbidden love. It was interesting how the film challenged societal norms and showed a love story that defied normal age expectations.