FROM:
movie, copyright 1986 by Henson Associates and Lucasfilm Ltd., and the book Labyrinth: A Novel Based on the Jim Henson Film, by A.C.H. Smith, copright 1986.
DESCRIPTION: He is a hypnotic, powerful sorcerer whose power is exhibited through crystal balls. He can also transform into a white-gold Barn Owl when he doesn't feel like being seen in human form.
He has incredibly dynamic eyes: one grey, one black. They are so vividly expressive and moving that they are practically impossible to ignore. He has unique dirty-blond-fading-to-medium-blond hair that looks at best like he stuck his finger in a socket and his hair is just now calming (or coming) down. In the back, his hair only comes to the top of his neck, while in the front, it gets as long as halfway down his chest. He's about 5'10" and a tad skinny in frame. He has really messed up teeth (uneven, sorely in need of veneers), but a nice mouth, though the upper lip is a bit thin. He has a languid, somewhat feline grace in everything that he does, including sitting in chairs or lounging (though it is debatable whether that is his Englishness or not).
He is most definitely an aristocrat with a somewhat arrogant air about him; it's probably due either to his unrivaled (and therefore probably hereditary) position, or, once again, his Englishness. Either way, he is extremely shrewd and resourceful and is never to be taken lightly or for a fool. He is also very sportsmanlike and generous; he probably wouldn't enjoy toying with a person if they didn't have a shot, or have a clue as to the answer of his riddle. In dress, he is a tad foppish (probably because he's English) and his wardrobe is both varied (in the space of 1 hour and 43 minutes, he shows off 11 different outfits) and an individual combination of Gothic and English riding clothes. He likes to play mind games and therefore is an extremely rational - and quick - thinker, most certainly no one that you'd willingly mess with. Above all, and in everything that he does, he's class all the way.
HISTORY: Very little is known about him. The best that can be drawn is that he is an immortal, though where he was born (or created) isn't certain. Sicne he is the Goblin King, he was probably born and raised a long time ago by parents to be an aristocrat (the way be treats and thinks of Sarah and the goblins shows this, though it might be possible that he learned the aristocrat's mentality through observation, depending on his age). Reardless of how he got the position, he built up his court throughout history because babies had been offered to to him freely. The goblins were supposed to be there for his service, but they bored him because they were dim; Jareth needed a bit of amusement, or, what he truly wanted, a goblin that he could train to help him rule the kingdom. As calls became rarer, and he got older (unlike vampires, signs of aging do show on him), he also became bored. Evidently, this must be how he found Sarah and fell in love with her. He took Toby from her not just for bargaining chip; at the very least, he wanted a goblin that would come up with new ideas for mischief-making (as it turned out, Jareth was actually pretty fond of the guy). As we know by now, he gave Sarah thirteen hours to solve his Labyrinth and get to Toby in its center before the baby became a goblin. Throughout that time, Jareth popped up every now and then to see if his guide was bailing on him, or to see if he could intimidate Sarah enough to give up and succumb to him. He even tried wiping her memory to get her to give in to him, but he underestimated her, and, in the end, she got her brother back, and he got a broken heart and turned into an owl (though it is possible that he turned himself into an owl because he couldn't stand to be without her, but he's too shrewd and haughty to relly do that). The last that was seen of him was at the end of the moviw when he flew off toard the moon - but he's not dead, he's just owled/.
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
WHY Laurie LIKES HIM: I find that Jareth is easily the most seductive, believable, and utterly frightening villain that I've ever come across (and believe me, I've met quite a few!). In him, you find a charming, hypnotic, absolutely irresistible character that, from the moment he comes on screen, you look forward to seeing again. Everything about his composure and air is so thoroughly entrancing that you're drawn into his world and you forget the presence of Sarah. From the moment he speaks to her, the voice makes your eyes widen and you share Sarah's feelings of surprise (and, perhaps, intrigue, too). when he offers her her dreams, you feel as torn as Sarah did. That single gesture, that solitary and genuine offer, is one of exquisite insight, near frightening intimacy, and incredible perfection; a proposal fit for the Devil. How anyone can accurately guess another's secret dreams and provate thoughts in frightening enough, but to imagine the amount of power and cunning that a gesture like that requires is downright terrifying; we're all afraid (to an extent) of those who can accurately predict what we think - it's human nature to guard privacy - but we are entirely dumbstruck as to how, and the exact consequences. That momentray break in thought leaves us powerless to think and control ourselves - we are completely in the control of that person. There is nothing more frightening than having no control over ourselves at all - there is nothing in Jareth's persona to illustrate otherwise. He doesn't radiate menace, or, more accurately, evil - he pulses with it, and infuses it into every languid gesture and moving word. It is this meticulous and flawless practice which makes Jareth not only the most memorable of the characters in the story (with the exception of maybe Ludo, Sir Didymus, and Ambrosius), but also the most alluring as well - there is something about his entire being that is so reminiscent of Dracula (a figure that can have complete control over women and there's little they can do to save themselves), and that makes him impossible to ignore.
Truly fitting of the Devil, Jareth is not just a fully bewitching epitome of a bad guy, he's also an incredibly senstive person. Once again, in response to his offer to Sarah, he was so understanding and caring. Perhaps nothing illustrated his emotional side better than the movies two ballads: "As the World Falls Down" and "Within You". In these two parts of the movie, Jareth shows a side that, if you had any doubts about him before, makes you completely believe in him. You see that, regardless of what Sarah and her friends have to say about him, Jareth does have feelings and isn't the ogre that he's made out to be. There is othing more stirring in Labyrinth than the movie's dramatic climax when Sarah faces Jareth alone (trust me - I've seen the movie over 20 times). The most poignant part was when Jareth sang, in the heartbreaking way, 'I...I..can't..live..within you'. Regardless of how much you wanted Sarah to get Toby back, at the precise moment that those words leave his lips, and camera shows you exactly how much she means to him, you can't help but to feel for the Goblin King. Yes, he may have had bad intentions, and yes, he most certainly did not earn himself and brownie points by asking her to let him govern what she did, but Hell, in that one scene you realize that he didn't know any better and he did the best he could - he was human. He honestly did try and made a few mistakes, but everything he did was done because he loved Sarah. He even made quite a few mistakes because of his feelings for her; he insisted on being totally fair, left her room exactly the way she had left it (with the storybook in place), he didn't force her to kiss him or even agree to anything during the ballroom scene, he gave her a chance to find Toby during the Escher room bit, and, THE mistake, not being crule enough with her to make her forget the words (besides letting her speak them, of course). Besides being coolly arrogant and naturally elegant, he is also very emotional and sensitive - you would absolutely never be forgotten about, much less bored. That wonderful side is what gives definite proof of not only a true evil guy, but also that the Devil is most certainly a blond (who wants a huge red centaur with ram's horns that will just be outright mean and boring, taunting you with a big fork and an oversized barbecue when you can have a guy with class who know how to play the odds and confuse even the most intelligent of people with style and ease to spare? You might also want to take notice of the fact that I speak of Jareth like he was a human and not....owled. This is because I absolutely love the guy and I believe that he was simply too proud and clever to be turned into an owl for all of eternity - especially by a whiny teenager! It's a highly improbable conceptthat he stayed an owl for that long - it's just not right!!!).
In summary,
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