The Village

The Village Blog

“The Village” is an excellent example how a myth can become a controlling force over a whole village.  Violent losses of family members resulted in the elders voluntarily leaving the towns to start a new isolated community.  By isolating themselves from the towns, the elders believe they could prevent the feeling of suffering of loss.  For example, a woman being raped and killed or a man corrupted by greed could have been prevented if not in the towns.  The elders leave the towns in hope for something good.  The main difference between the village and the “real world” is in the village the people could live in a simpler time without the corruption of modern day and without money at all.  In the village, the elders could create life the way they believe it was to be lived.  The isolated village also offers a closer connection between its inhabitants compared to a large city where people are more spread out.  In order for their village to remain isolated, the elders create a myth that instills a fear of the woods surrounding the village.  According to the myth, “those who we do not speak of” live in the Covington Woods.  There is also a pact between the village people and the creatures of the woods.  The pact states that if the village people do not enter the woods then the creatures will not attack.  When dead carcasses begin appearing all over the village people start to get suspicious blaming Lucius for going into the woods to seek medical supplies.  I believe the elder’s reasons for creating the myth are justifiable; however, the fear of the myth should not keep the village completely isolated.  Although the village is self sufficient, it lacks the medicines that could have saved August Nicholson’s son, Daniel, or cure Noah’s mental state.

After Daniel Nicholson’s funeral, August says to Lucius “you may run from sorrow, as we have, but sorrow will find you. It can smell you."  This is a significant statement in the movie that connects the past and the present.  The elders ran from the sorrow in the towns but it has still found them in their isolated village.  The death of Augusts’ son has brought sorrow to his life in the isolated village.  It is significant that August says this quote to Lucius because it gives Lucius the idea of going to the towns to get medicines.  If Lucius did not enter the woods, the village would have remained the same as previous years. 

The use of color throughout the movie is very symbolic.  Since birth the villagers have been taught that yellow is the safe color and it will protect against the creatures in the woods.  For example, when Ivy is traveling through the woods and her yellow robe becomes muddy, she fears the monsters.  Even though she knows the monsters are not real, she has been taught that the yellow color provides a sense of security.  Similarly, the villagers have been drilled to associate the color red with the creatures in the woods.  Red, known as the “bad color,” instills fear in the villagers when spotted.  For example, a beautiful red flower is seen as a connection to “those who we do not speak of” and is immediately covered.  The creatures throughout the movie are also always wearing red.  It makes sense that red was chosen as the “bad color” as it represents the devil but it is ironic that yellow was chosen as the “safe color.”  Yellow is often associated with weakness or cowardice, but in “The Village” the yellow color gives the people strength and security against the creatures.   

The elders created “the village” to protect their innocence and get away from the corruption and bloodshed of the “real world.”  This is highly ironic because in the village there is not just sunshine and rainbows but also violence.  For example, when the dead carcasses were scattered around the village it prompted the people to act out thinking the creatures did this out of madness.  Although the elders believe they have control over the violence that the people are exposed to, this is not the case when Lucius is stabbed by Noah.  The villager’s innocence might be protected from the violence in the “real world,” but they still are exposed to bloodshed within the village.   

Fear of the myth is instilled into the villagers from birth.  As a result, they do not have a choice in the way they are living.  The fear within them is so great, that they are afraid to explore beyond their set boundaries.  The villager’s have been taught that there is only one way of life and no one should seek new ways of living.  In “The Village” the members were frightened into self-protection and self-preservation; however, this is not right.  I believe the villagers should not be frightened but have a free mind to do as they please.  Ivy goes into the woods to seek medicine in the towns for Lucius.  When she leaves Mr. Walker says to the elders “yes I have risked and I hope I am always able to risk everything for the just and right cause.” The cause for letting Ivy venture into the woods is definitely just and right.  Lucius was stabbed by Noah out of jealously.  He was an innocent victim in this awful crime.  It is only right to let Ivy go to the towns and get medicine in an attempt to save Lucius.  There would be a price to preserving such a powerful myth.  If Mr. Walker wanted to preserve the myth he would not have let Ivy go into the town to get medicine.  Without the medicine the death of Lucius, one of their own villagers, seems very probable.   

There are some parallels between the functioning myth and its organizing principles.  The myth allowed the village to attempt the creation of a utopian society.  The Amish today have created a similar separation from the “real world.”  However they differ from the villagers in they occasionally trade with others.  “The Village” wanted to appear that they had a utopia but it is impossible to live in isolation.  There are also functioning myths in today’s society that manipulate people’s actions, behaviors, and choices.  For example our world today is very materialistic.  People have been programmed that if one wears designer clothes then they must be superior.  When two people go in for a job interview, their appearance should not be a big contributing factor to whom gets the job.  However, it is almost guaranteed that the person who “looks” the part is more likely to receive the job because we have been programmed to value and desire good outer appearance.  “The Village” provides great insights to how functioning myths have control over people even in today’s society.