The first character I am exploring in this post is Mr Gold/ Rumpelstiskin during the first two seasons which I absolutely adore in his complexity.
Rumpel has dealt with abandonment from his father, the death of his mother, he was called a coward and had lots of public humiliation, one example being when one property owner forced him to kiss his shoe in front of his son. Furthermore, during the war, he lied to his superiors and broke his own leg so he is not forced to fight and risk his life, his injury being the perfect excuse for him to be sent back home. As usual, in life, when it rains it pours and due to rumors having reached his village about the cowardice on the warfront concerning the leg injury, his reputation of a coward has been intensified, and as a result his wife left him and his son. Rumpelstiltskin did not have the courage to stand up for himself in front of these humiliations, this magnifying his fears and cowardice over time.
As a way of dealing with his fear he deeply desired power as the antidote he perceived to his cowardice. He aimed to become the Dark one, the all-powerful, who can use dark magic and have upmost power in the kingdom and he appropriated this power by killing the previous owner of the dagger, the controller of this energy.
Looking at it from this angle we can see Rumpel going on the wrong path by trying to use power to command people into submission so he does not need to fear, be humiliated, be submitted to another human’s power and be called a coward.
It is human he would like his reputation restored and fear obliterated by owning magic, however his way of approaching weakness is not in alignment with truth and life. This is the pendulum effect we all know so well, of taking action from the same wounded energy and swinging in the opposite direction, seemingly different on the outside yet underneath the energy staying completely the same.
Rumpel started using magic inappropriately on people at times and transforming them in bugs just for pleasure. This will affect his son, Baelfire who is wishing to go explore the world yet he is mostly kept “captive” at home by his father who is fearful for his son’s safety. Villagers stay far because they fear his father and potential repercussions onto their lives. As a result, there is a strong desire inside his son’s heart to get rid of the dagger and go to a land without magic where they can both live quietly and peacefully. Rumpel believes there is no such option but agrees to follow his son if he finds a way. His son’s wishes are granted and he is shown a way where they can both take a portal and leave behind this unfulfilling life, with a condition: there will be no magic on the other side.
This was a crucial moment for Rumpel, as he was forced to choose between his son and keeping magic, his power and comfort. Being faced with this choice, in front of the open portal, he was once again a coward and could not let go of the power, thus losing his son who got transported to another world. Immediately after, we can see Rumpel in tears, regretting his choice.
To be continued in part 2
SimplyLadyEvergreen 