Blog #6 Stardust (2007)

In the context of religious journeys, Stardust portrays the protagonist, Tristan, as a pilgrim in a fantastical world, embarking on a quest not only to capture a fallen star for his beloved but also on a path towards his own spiritual awakening. This journey is reminiscent of the religious pilgrimage, where the pilgrim seeks a transformative experience through encounters with the divine or the sacred. Tristan’s transformation from a naive shop boy to a self-assured hero mirrors the inner transformation that is often the goal of a religious awakening. The concept of the ‘other’ is central to the narrative, as Tristan, a human, ventures into the magical realm of Stormhold, where he is the outsider. This encounter with the ‘other’ is a common theme in religious texts, where the protagonist often encounters beings from different realms or worlds, leading to a deeper understanding of the self and the universe. The ‘other’ in Stardust is represented not only by the inhabitants of Stormhold but also by Yvaine, the personified star, who is both literally and metaphorically a celestial ‘other’.