Jareth, The Monster Who Was Not Really a Monster - #MonsterMondays 30

So I did have a whole other post planned for today, but waking up to the news of the death of David Bowie, another great soul lost to cancer, I, of course, had to change my choice of monster. #RIPDavidBowie

Jareth

The Monster Who Was Not Really a Monster

David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King, from Labyrinth

Wittegen Press

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Jareth, on the face of it, is the typical fairy tale villain. He is the monster with the pretty face who steals babies, taking them to his castle beyond the Labyrinth, and commands other monsters. He is callous and cruel and ready to punish any who disobey him ... at least that's what he tries to make out. Only he's not really very good at it.

Jareth is a monster who only does what he is asked and then offers those whose bidding he has done a way out if only they are clever enough.

• He takes children to his castle, eventually to become goblins, but only when it is requested.
• Then when those who asked him to take the children complain, he allows them to attempt the Labyrinth to get the children back. The fact no one has managed it, it neither here nor there.

Not really very monsterish. Frankly he kind of lets the side down as far as fairy tale monsters go, but I love him.

The worst he ever actually does is try and dump Hoggle in the bog of eternal stench and then he doesn't even make sure it happens, he just lets gravity have a go.

He's more of a lonely figure in want of love than a true monster, and Bowie makes him incredibly sexy.

At his command are true monsters, although, they're not very evil ones either. Mostly the goblins are incompetent and lacking true malice. They are highly entertaining, however.

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Amazon | Other

The only time Jareth seems really menacing during the film is at the end, in the Escher part of the castle where Sarah is trying to get to Toby. His offhanded control of his power makes him finally seem like a real threat. He even confesses to Sarah that what he really wants is her to love him.

He is a man, yet again, wishing to possess a woman, which is monstrous in itself, but he cannot force her to be his. There are limits to his power.

I have to admit the only monsters in the whole film I find really threatening are ones that I don't think were really supposed to be. The Fire Gang, with all their removal of their heads and trying to take off Sarah's head really freaked me out when I was younger. Still does if I am honest :).

So there you have it, the sexiest monster on my list to date: Jareth in his tight trousers and long boots.

I hope the Goblin King has finally managed to woo Sarah properly and convince her to come with him, back into the Labyrinth and that he is at peace now he has left this world. Good night sweet prince.