On the eleventh day of Fantastic Beasts, my true love gave to me... Another darkly disturbed ambiguous antihero!
Welcome to day 11 of the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts! Below I present one section of one of the most intriguing characters from the film: Credence Barebone.
SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE SCRIPT BOOK!
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| Crossed Wands by Kayla Perkinson |
On Credence Barebone from Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts
Although the “faith” part of Credence's name is mentioned in an earlier section, there is another meaning for Credence that I believe pertains. In the Church’s Eucharist (Mass), the credence is the table which holds the bread and wine before they are consecrated and served.
In this sense, Credence holds the elements that can be come Divine…if lovingly nurtured. With the power Credence possesses, he could be quite the force for good.
In the script book, he is described as an adult. In the film, he comes off as an older teen, at least to me.
All we know about his heritage before he was adopted by Mary Lou is that his mother was a “wicked, unnatural woman” (p. 204). A witch.
Based on his interactions with Graves, Credence longs for a connection to his magical heritage, which he has been taught to fear and loathe. Self-loathing is perhaps the most destructive form of hatred.
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Graves/Grindelwald decreases Credence’s self-worth even more when he betrays his blossoming romantic feelings by telling him:
You’re a Squib, Credence. I could smell it off you the minute I met you. (p. 226).He then tells Credence that the death of his mother is his reward. (We assume he is referring to Mary Lou and that Grindelwald has not searched out Credence’s birth mother).
It’s quite a bleak beginning for this young man. However, Rowling loves to take a dark character with a kernel of good and redeem them (Snape, anyone?). We must have faith in Credence!
Note: Credence and the Obscurus are big topics that I cover in more than one section of the book. I've only presented one section here.
Just like Snape, Credence is a darkly disturbed ambiguous character with a hint of the antihero. From the deleted scene of Credence on the ship, we know he will be in future movies. What do you think we can expect from him?!
Be sure to check out all posts for the 12 Days of Fantastic Beasts!
About the Book:
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| Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts |
Explore JK Rowling's secrets, one clue at a time!
Fantastic Secrets Behind Fantastic Beasts is THE guide for all Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them fans eager to experience anew the excitement of of finding clues and sharing speculation, just like they enjoyed during the height of the Harry Potter series. New fans will be amazed at the secrets lurking underneath the surface of Rowling's newest film. Diving deeply into the story's mysteries, S.P. Sipal offers a detailed analysis of the analogies, myths, and clues JK Rowling hid on screen and on page to charm her fans once again.
Discover and explore such questions as:
- Is there an Animagi hidden in the story?
- Why will there be FIVE movies?
- What secret is Modesty hiding?
- Did Frank wipe out ALL the memories from that fateful night?
- And was Grindelwald already in possession of the Elder Wand?
S.P. Sipal has analyzed the mysteries behind the Harry Potter series for over a dozen years. A sought-after presenter at fan, writing, and academic conferences both at home and abroad, her books have also delighted writers, teachers, and fans alike. Now she turns her expert attention to investigating the beginning of Rowling's exciting new series. Join her as she prepares you to dig into the layers of subtext yourself to claim what treasures await...before the Niffler beats you to it!
