Pirates of the Caribbean
Body, mind, and spirit characters are not limited to literature.
TV and film also have their fair share. "Pirates of the Caribbean,"
starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, and Orlando Bloom, is a great
example.
Jack arrives at Port Royal and immediately bribes the dock keeper. He then steals the dock keeper's purse. After that, he begins his real task of commandeering a ship to raid, pillage, and plunder. All that interests Jack is personal gain, and he shows it from the minute he appears on-screen.
When Elizabeth faints and falls off the wall into the water, he waits to see if anyone else will save her. After he rescues her, only he knows to cut off her corset to help her breathe. When the others present are amazed, he tells them, "Clearly, you've never been to Singapore," suggesting past sexual escapades - another body character trait.
When Will comes to rescue Jack from prison, Jack refuses until he learns Will's full name. Once he sees profit for himself, then he becomes interested.
When Jack and Elizabeth are stranded, Jack gets drunk, makes a pass at Elizabeth, and then asks "Why's the rum gone?" the next morning when Elizabeth is building a signal fire with it.
Jack is the quintessential body character. Even when he's helping others, it's only because he's getting something out of it for himself, as well.
Elizabeth is introduced as a young girl, singing a pirate's song. She then expresses a curiosity about pirates and is aghast when Norrington suggests pirates were only good for the gallows. When Will is brought aboard, she recognizes his necklace as a pirate medallion.From the beginning, Elizabeth is shown to be someone who knows more than anyone else.
Later, when Jack rescues her from drowning, she tries to save Jack from the gallows by arguing in terms of fairness. "That's not fair!" is a common phrase used by mind characters because for them, things must make sense. Jack saved her life, so it doesn't make sense to hang him.
When the Black Pearl makes its way to Port Royal, she invokes the "right of parley" from the pirates' code. On the Black Pearl, she 'negotiates' for 'cessation of hostilities.' This is the cool, calm act of a true mind character. She also starts dinner as a proper lady should. She has to be given permission to break the rules. Mind characters are usually bound by a set of rules or a code of law.
When the Interceptor is chased by the Black Pearl, Elizabeth is the one who knows the Interceptor has a shallower draft and she also develops the battle strategy. Later, she knew how to build a signal that would attract a navy ship to rescue her and Jack.
Besides his unconscious rescue as a young boy, Will Turner's introduction comes when he delivers the sword to Governor Swan. He delivers the sword with a flourish and is visibly hurt when Swan gives credit to Will's master for its craftsmanship. He finally says, "A craftsman is always pleased to hear his work is appreciated." A spirit character might be reluctant to say something that would offend someone else.
Will slams a hatchet into Norrington's map table when he refuses to immediately chase the Black Pearl after Elizabeth is taken. When Norringtom refuses, he goes to rescue Jack to take him to the Black Pearl. Before they start, Jack asks Will how far he'd go to save Elizabeth. Will replies, "I'd die for her." Where the mind character is concerned with fairness, the spirit character lives in a world of hyperbole.
At the end, he expresses his love to Elizabeth and saves Jack from the gallows. Norrington compliments Will's "love and devotion," both which are characteristics of a spirit character.
Body Character: Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)
Jack arrives at Port Royal and immediately bribes the dock keeper. He then steals the dock keeper's purse. After that, he begins his real task of commandeering a ship to raid, pillage, and plunder. All that interests Jack is personal gain, and he shows it from the minute he appears on-screen.
When Elizabeth faints and falls off the wall into the water, he waits to see if anyone else will save her. After he rescues her, only he knows to cut off her corset to help her breathe. When the others present are amazed, he tells them, "Clearly, you've never been to Singapore," suggesting past sexual escapades - another body character trait.
When Will comes to rescue Jack from prison, Jack refuses until he learns Will's full name. Once he sees profit for himself, then he becomes interested.
When Jack and Elizabeth are stranded, Jack gets drunk, makes a pass at Elizabeth, and then asks "Why's the rum gone?" the next morning when Elizabeth is building a signal fire with it.
Jack is the quintessential body character. Even when he's helping others, it's only because he's getting something out of it for himself, as well.
Mind Character: Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightly)
Elizabeth is introduced as a young girl, singing a pirate's song. She then expresses a curiosity about pirates and is aghast when Norrington suggests pirates were only good for the gallows. When Will is brought aboard, she recognizes his necklace as a pirate medallion.From the beginning, Elizabeth is shown to be someone who knows more than anyone else.
Later, when Jack rescues her from drowning, she tries to save Jack from the gallows by arguing in terms of fairness. "That's not fair!" is a common phrase used by mind characters because for them, things must make sense. Jack saved her life, so it doesn't make sense to hang him.
When the Black Pearl makes its way to Port Royal, she invokes the "right of parley" from the pirates' code. On the Black Pearl, she 'negotiates' for 'cessation of hostilities.' This is the cool, calm act of a true mind character. She also starts dinner as a proper lady should. She has to be given permission to break the rules. Mind characters are usually bound by a set of rules or a code of law.
When the Interceptor is chased by the Black Pearl, Elizabeth is the one who knows the Interceptor has a shallower draft and she also develops the battle strategy. Later, she knew how to build a signal that would attract a navy ship to rescue her and Jack.
Spirit Character: Will Turner (Orlando Bloom)
Besides his unconscious rescue as a young boy, Will Turner's introduction comes when he delivers the sword to Governor Swan. He delivers the sword with a flourish and is visibly hurt when Swan gives credit to Will's master for its craftsmanship. He finally says, "A craftsman is always pleased to hear his work is appreciated." A spirit character might be reluctant to say something that would offend someone else.
Will slams a hatchet into Norrington's map table when he refuses to immediately chase the Black Pearl after Elizabeth is taken. When Norringtom refuses, he goes to rescue Jack to take him to the Black Pearl. Before they start, Jack asks Will how far he'd go to save Elizabeth. Will replies, "I'd die for her." Where the mind character is concerned with fairness, the spirit character lives in a world of hyperbole.
At the end, he expresses his love to Elizabeth and saves Jack from the gallows. Norrington compliments Will's "love and devotion," both which are characteristics of a spirit character.
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