| The Relationship between Angel/Angelus and Connor | |||||||||
ANGELUS: (on
camera) Which do you think is worse, Wes? Stealing my
kid like you did or banging him… like Cordelia? All that
bumpin’ and
grindin’, fire raining in the sky… quite a picture.
Well, more of a snapshot, ’cause Connor… |
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Angelus
is referring to the Oedipus myth & play, also Sigmund Freud's
famous "Oedipus
Complex" (see bottom of page), 'his theory that young boys
lust after their mothers and see their fathers as competition for
their mothers' favors.'
You can also look at: The Oedipus Myth / Oedipus Complex |
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Connor's Story Both the story of Oedipus and the description of Freud's Oedipus Complex, somewhat reflect the relationship between:
Unlike Holtz, the king and queen loved Oedipus (Connor figure) and didn't take him from his parents as Holtz did from Angel in order to exact revenge. Connor is the human child of two vampires, Angel and Darla, which should have been impossible. Since Darla was a vampire she was unable to give birth to him and in her only moment of true 'goodness' she sacrificed her unlife for her child.(see clip below, Lullaby - S3,Ep9) Darla staked herself so Connor would live. Connor was only raised by Angel, Cordelia and the rest of Angel Investigations for the first few weeks after he was born. For the rest of his childhood he wasn't raised by Angel and Cordelia (Angel's close friend and someone he falls in love with), but by Holtz, Angel's adversary. Holtz was a vampire hunter in York and hunted both Angelus and Darla in the 1700's. Eventually Angelus and Darla brutally killed his family and even turned his younger daughter, forcing Holtz to stake her. Holtz's hatred for them grew to the point that he made a deal with Sahjhan in 1773 to help him get his vengeance in the future. No one knows who Sahjhan is or why he hates Angel/Angelus so much, not even Angel. Sahjhan turned Holtz to stone and revived him in season 3 to help him in his own plot to destroy Angel/Angelus. Sahjhan can travel and effect time, he went back and altered various prophecies and artifacts. These written histories led Wesley to believe that "The father will kill the son", meaning Angel would kill Connor, who was a new born baby. You can also go to Wesley for more information about the prophecy and Connor kidnapping. Wesley was going to run away with Connor and raise him himself, thus saving Connor. On his way out of town Justine Cooper, one of Holtz's present day soldiers, stops him by slashing his throat (leaving him for dead), stealing his car and baby Connor. She brings Connor to Holtz so that they both can raise him out west (see clip below, "Sleep Tight" - S3,Ep16). Much to her shock things get rather complicated and Holtz escapes from Angel and Lilah's soldiers by jumping through a portal into the Quor-toth dimension (see clip below, "Sleep Tight" - S3,Ep16). The Quor-toth dimension is a hellish dimension, so much so that there is no way in and out. Somehow Sahjhan creates the portal or tear in the walls between dimensions or the time-space continuum to threaten Angel. He claimed that he would increase its size and destroy the world if Angel doesn't give Connor to him. Unfortunately for both Sahjhan and Lilah, Holtz escapes through it with Connor. Connor returns not as a baby, but a full grown teenager of about 16 or 18. Holtz changes Connor's name to Stephen and poisons his mind against Angel with lies and half truths. In Quor-toth, Stephen had to constantly fight for his life and so became a capable and deadly hunter/fighter. He has some heightened senses and abilities from his vampire parents. He's a very angry, wild young man. Cordy's new demon abilities manifest themselves and she heals some of Stephen's pain, she seems to dull his painful memories. Holtz passes through the same rift in the dimensional wall and follows Stephen to complete his plan to destroy Angel/Angelus. With the help of Justine he sets up his death to look as if a vampire, namely Angel, killed him. In a blinding rage Stephen captures and imprisons Angel in a metal box that he dumps into the water just off the L.A. coast. Over the coarse of the summer Stephen misleads Fred and Gunn, the last two members of the agency that are still together and working at the agency, into thinking he doesn't know where Angel is. During this time the outcast Wesley, from the Fang Gang, has been leading his own agency to help people while searching for Angel and Cordelia. Wesley had Justine chained and caged in his apartment while sleeping with and using Lilah for information. After much work Wesley finds Angel's cage and frees him. He does what he can, even feeding him his own blood, until he returns Angel to Fred and Gunn giving them an explanation to what has happened. All this is unknown to Stephen. Fred and Gunn use a cattle prod to stun Stephen and tie him up in a chair. A very angry Fred questions and electrocutes him, she asks him why and how could he do that to his father. His anger and hatred for Angel is very deep. Over a few weeks or a couple of months Angel grows closer to Stephen and he soon changes his name back to Connor. Angel was angry at Connor for what he had done, but he continued to love him and forgive him for his betrayal. Angel seems to understand that Holtz had twisted Connor over the years. Connor lives on his own, but on occasion fights with Angel and the group. He has always continued to kill vampires and other nasties in L.A.. When 'Cordelia' returns from being a Higher Being, over the same period of time that Angel has been underwater, she has no memories of her past. Thinking that he was protecting Cordy, Angel tells her half truths about who they are, their history and that he is a vampire. Huge Spoilers ahead in the next
paragraph!!!! When 'Cordy' finds out the truth she acts like she feels betrayed and lied to. She leaves Angel and goes to Connor for shelter and a shoulder to lean on. Over a period of time we see that Connor has feelings for Cordelia, but she kept him at a distance. At the time it seems to the audience that she does this because of her feelings for his father, Angel. Near the end of the season we find out that it was just part of 'Jasmine's' act to draw Connor to her in order to have them create and give birth to her. During the "end of the world" when there's fire raining from the sky and the sun is blocked out over L. A. 'Cordelia' sleeps with Connor/Steven, Angel's son. The morning after they sleep together she sees that the world hasn't ended. She starts to act guilty and uncomfortable and she tells Connor that it was basically a mistake and because she loves Angel she can't be with him. During "Soulless" (S4, Ep11) Angelus shines a light on the fact that Connor and Cordelia slept together, something that really hurt Angel. He uses it to hurt and taunt them. In Salvage (S4,Ep13) it seems that the relationship between Connor and Cordelia come one step closer to the Oedipus myth. Evil Cordelia (see Cordelia for information about who she might actually be) tells Connor that she is pregnant with his 'child'. In the myth of Oedipus, Oedipus has several children with his mother/wife. At the time there seemed to be a chance that Evil Cordelia is lying to him about it being his 'child', it might be The Beast offspring because earlier on we see Evil Cordelia kissing him and implying there is more to their relationship. Somehow I don't see Sahjhan having taken any of this into account when he decided to rearrange prophesies and history in order to save himself and to have revenge on Angel/Angelus. You can also look at: The Oedipus Myth / Oedipus Complex Would you like to send me some feedback about what I've written or on my site? COMMENTS |
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The
Oedipus Myth King Laius's grandfather was the founder of Thebes and named Cadmus. Laius received a prediction from Apollo's oracle that his son will kill him. In order to prevent that from happening he along with his wife, Queen Jocasta, give their baby to a herdsman exposed him on Mount Cithaeron, between Boeotia and Attica, so that he would die. The servant couldn't carry it out and so he gave the infant to King Polybus and Queen Periboe of Corinth, who couldn't have children. Oedipus was given his name by his foster parents because of his injured feet. His father, Laius, pierced his ankles or feet with an iron pin (or brooches/spikes) and so they became deformed. Oedipus leaves his foster parents, who he thinks are his biological parents because he want's to escape the the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. King Laius was killed just outside of Thebes by a young man, who ends up being Oedipus. The city was blocked off from travelers by the Sphinx, " a winged monster with the head of a woman and the body of a lion who kills all who fail to answer her riddle." Oedipus is the only person able to answer the riddle and so the Sphinx kills herself. He is rewarded for saving Thebes by being able marry the widow Queen Jocasta. He doesn't know that the man he killed was his biological father and the woman he is marrying is his mother. They are married for several happy years and have a few children. Many years later a blight happens to Thebes and the crops and new borns are killed. King Oedipus send his brother-in-law to find out from the oracle how to fix the situation. He is instructed to discover who killed King Laius and banish him from Thebes. Another source says that the seer Tiresias was asked what do to and where told that if someone voluntarily died for their country, the city would be free its problems. Either way Oedipus was shocked to find out that he had killed his actual father and married his mother. He ended up being both the father and brother of his children. He ended up blinding himself with his mother's brooches. Many more unhappy things will befall Thebes over the next few years as well as his family. ClassicNotes:
Oedipus Rex / Oedipus the King, Background
to Oedipus the King |
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Oedipus Complex "Freudian term, drawn from the myth of Oedipus, designating attraction on the part of the child toward the parent of the opposite sex and rivalry and hostility toward the parent of its own. It occurs during the phallic stage of the psycho-sexual development of the personality, approximately years three to five. Resolution of the Oedipus complex is believed to occur by identification with the parent of the same sex and by the renunciation of sexual interest in the parent of the opposite sex." (Source) |
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Connor's Birth Darla
stands atop an office tower, looking down over the cityscape below,
her hands cradling her pregnant belly. Angel appears behind her. "Lullaby" (S3,Ep9) Sahjahn and Holtz SAHJAHN:Yes.
I’m familiar with your firm, in this and other dimensions. "Loyalty" (S3,Ep15) Holtz
smiles, then looks over his shoulder at Connor, strapped into his
seat in the back. "Sleep Tight" (S3,Ep16) Angel
looks back at Holtz and Connor. "Sleep Tight" (S3,Ep16) Connor and Cordelia after they kiss Connor approaches Cordelia from behind and wraps
his arms around her as she folds her clothes. Supersymmetry (S4,Ep5) Connor and Cordelia Sleep Together Cordelia
and Connor watch in stunned horror and amazement as a massive column Apocalypse Nowish (S4, Ep7) The
Los Angeles night sky is filled with flaming meteors as they plummet
to earth. ANGEL stands on the rooftop amidst the fiery spectacle
and looks down through the windows of the building next door, watching
in stunned silence as CORDELIA and CONNOR make love. Habeas Corpses (S4, Ep8) Connor and Angel ANGEL:
Okay, look, I know things haven’t been going our way lately
but things change and we’re not down for the count yet. Look,
the Beast is not our only concern right now. Until we figure out
how to end eternal darkness, it’s a devil’s playground
out there. "Awakening" (S4, Ep10) from Angel CONNOR:Everyone’s afraid of you. ANGELUS:Is that my shirt? CONNOR:Not anymore. ANGELUS:Looks good on you… son. CONNOR:So did Cordy. ANGELUS:She looks good on everybody. CONNOR:Angel warned me about you, said I should remember you’re not my real father. Angelus stands up and approaches the bars. ANGELUS:Yeah. That was a nice speech. Touching. I think it ended with you promising to kill me. CONNOR:I remember. ANGELUS:Kind of unnecessary, don’t you think? I mean, with your track record, I’ll be staking myself by the end of the day. CONNOR:(smiles) That’s fine by me. ANGELUS:Darla felt the same way. Made her sick, you squirming inside her, so she jammed a stake into her own heart just so she wouldn’t have to hear your first whiny breath. CONNOR:You don’t know anything. ANGELUS:Then there was Holtz. You disappointed him so much, he stabbed himself in the neck. CONNOR:(angry) My fa— Holtz was a good man. All he ever wanted was for you to get the punishment you deserve. And you will. ANGELUS: And now my boy’s in love… all hearts and flowers. (beat) But doesn’t it freak you out that she used to change your diapers? I mean, when you think about it, the first woman you boned is the closest thing you’ve ever had to a mother. Doing your mom and trying to kill your dad… hmm, there should be a play. CONNOR:You think I care what you say? Angel told me how you’ll try to hurt me. How you weren’t my real dad, just some animal in a cage. Angel’s my dad. ANGELUS:I’m gonna cry. CONNOR:That’s what he told me… and he thought I believed him. The truth is… Angel’s just something that you’re forced to wear. You’re my real father. He stares icily at Angelus. ANGELUS:I’m right here. All you have to do is come and get me. CONNOR:You’d like that. ANGELUS:You couldn’t take me, anyway. CONNOR:We’ll see. Angelus turns and walks back toward the wall. ANGELUS:Promises, promises. Don’t make ’em if you can’t keep ’em. CONNOR:I wouldn’t think of it. Connor approaches the bars. ANGELUS:This might be your best chance. Connor stares at Angelus with hatred and steps across the red line. ANGELUS:Don’t disappoint daddy. CORDELIA (o.s.) Connor. He turns to find Cordelia watching him from the stairs and steps back. CORDELIA:Go upstairs. He looks back at Angelus. CONNOR:No. CORDELIA:Please. Go upstairs. Connor stares at Angelus for a long beat, then turns and heads up the stairs. CONNOR:(to Angelus) It’s your lucky day. ANGELUS:Yeah. Go to your room, mama’s boy. When Connor is gone and the basement door is closed, Cordelia reaches up to the camera and disconnects it. "Soulless" (S4, Ep11) from Angel Secrets Revealed GUNN:We
don’t have to— "Soulless" (S4, Ep11) from Angel Connor looks up from changing his clothes as Cordelia enters with a shirt for him. CORDELIA:Hope you like black. CONNOR:Thanks. He takes it and puts it on, noticing how big it is. CONNOR:This is his. CORDELIA:(smiles)Well, if you don’t like it, I could ask Lorne. CONNOR:It’s fine. He starts to strap on his wrist-stake. CORDELIA:You’re not going back out. CONNOR:Somebody has to. CORDELIA:Connor, you’re exhausted. You said yourself there are too many— CONNOR:I want to get out of here, okay? Everybody still looks at me like I’m the one who’s connected to the Beast. CORDELIA:No. The looking earlier, that wasn’t about the Beast. It was because of us. Angelus said some things… about the night we… you know. The weirdness is because everyone knows. CONNOR:Good. CORDELIA:Connor… CONNOR:Angel doesn’t care if everyone knows. Why should I? CORDELIA(firm)It’s not Angel. (beat) Anyway, you should get some rest. She turns to go. CONNOR:You don’t want to be with me, fine. You’re not. But don’t tell me what to do. She hesitates, then walks out, closing the door behind her. "Soulless" (S4, Ep11) from Angel Wesley pauses on the stares and turns back toward the cage. WESLEY:You must hate it. That Angel fights evil. ANGELUS:Eats you up inside, doesn’t it? Seeing all those idiots flock around him, calling him a champion. Anyone ever call you a champion? WESLEY:I do my part. ANGELUS:Right. Like letting Lilah suck Lorne’s brain. Or here’s an oldy but a goody… Faith. Good job being her Watcher. She turned out to be a peach. WESLEY:And you managed to get your soul back, not once but twice, saving the world several times in the process. Nobody’s perfect. ANGELUS:Then there’s kidnapping the fruit of my loins. Smooth. WESLEY:He survived. ANGELUS:I guess you just can’t understand that special bond between dad and son, given that your own father’s ashamed of you. WESLEY:And Connor’s ashamed of you. The universe’s way of maintaining order, I guess. ANGELUS:That twerp really gives me the creeps. You? WESLEY:In Cordelia’s vision, you and the Beast were standing on a field— ANGELUS:Oh, god, yeah! Let’s talk about Cordy, shall we? Huh? Now there’s a rack to write home about. Too bad about the personality, though. Yap, yap, yap, yap. "Soulless" (S4, Ep11) from Angel |
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Baby Blues Cordelia
stands at the window, looking out at the sunny day, her eyes
narrowed in anger. The door opens and Connor runs in. "Salvage" (S4, Ep13) from Angel |
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