Color Theory and the Women of Supernatural , considering the Narrative Shift
genuinely can't think of a more iconic image than Mary Winchester's white nightgown , so let's start with that . i know this is fairly basic stuff , but bear with me .
something that we see most often in the early seasons of Supernatural is the classic white nightgown . the Madonna figure , meant to contrast the evil and impurity in the world — most often symbolized by the Demons . white is an interesting color in color psychology because while it most typically shows Purity , Innocence , and the Ideal Goodness ( all things that Mary and Jess are meant to represent as the elusive figures of Holy Women ) , it can also be symbolic of coldness , or distance . these idealized women are being drawn further from the truth of who they actually are and set upon a pedestal of holiness and innocence , instead becoming the Avenged One .
an interesting turning point we see is Jo Harvelle , who starts out as another Blonde Madonna : she is perceived as naive and in need of protection —
however , her white shirt is later covered by darker colors . the gray jacket that she wears in season 5 layers that same innocent white with a color that represents intelligence and , considering her death in the season , sadness .
it's after Jo that the perception of women begins to shift , and we see this with Lisa Braeden .
Lisa wears blue most often , a color that represents calmness , trust , and stability — exactly what Dean is looking for in their relationship . Lisa no longer represents an unattainable ideal , but rather a sense of balance or tranquility that Dean clings to when he returns to her after the First Apocalypse .
on the subject of blue , another character who wears this often is Charlie Bradbury , highlighting the trust and loyalty that the Winchesters find in her company , especially during the Leviathan Arc in which it became extremely difficult to know who to trust .
Charlie also frequently wears pink , a color most widely known for representing joy , playfulness , and feminity ( or even Charlie's attraction to it . ) . however , pink can also imply being emotional or timid , something Charlie certainly displays .
Abaddon is another absolutely brilliant character who showcases the transition from wearing the innocent white as Josie to wearing black , a color of power and evil when possessed .
and now for my favorite subject ! Rowena .
Rowena is sort of notorious for changing her outfits rather often , which highlights her unpredictable nature .
here are some of the most fascinating :
of course , her original black dress . representative always of mystery , allure , and evil — however , this changes over time as she begins to wear blue and even silver dresses , highlighting trust and intelligence , as well as gray/silver showing emotional unavailability , most commonly seen when she puts her needs far above others .
her red dress is absolutely striking , and does well to showcase power , passion , and danger . truly fitting for a Queen of Hell .
something interesting to note is that her magic most often manifests in purple energy , and purple is a major indicator of spirituality , magic , creativity , and royalty .
lastly , i want to mention Mary Winchester again .
her white shirt is still present , and still valid , though now hidden under layers of grays and greens — Green , a color often associated with hunting or the woods , judgmentalism , though also an indication of hope , the hope that the boys have now that their mother is returned to them .
i also couldn't leave out mentioning Billie , who dresses completely in black . absolutely stunning .
Black represents mystery , fitting for her first appearance in which she is an enigmatic Reaper with an unsettling attitude . of course Death is also commonly associated with the color black .
the point is , while women are originally seen as distant figures of innocence , which must be avenged or protected , they are gradually brought to hold their own and dismantle idealization , showcased by their bright and beautiful appearance .
all right ! if you read this far then thank you very very much , i hope you enjoyed ! if there's a character or value i missed , please let me know ! color psychology is my absolute favorite analysis tool , and i'm always happy to talk about it . :)))
Take me. You have my permission.
You've been very entertaining, my dear. But I don't need your permission. Abaddon takes what she wants. And right now, she wants everything.
Abaddon/Josie Sands in Mother's Little Helper (9x17): Best of SPN Ladies [429/?]
Not that I'm really surprised. After he got kidnapped by the winchesters, and then disappeared in a hotel room for months because of his addiction to human blood, well... I'm not surprised he doesn't have much of a following anymore.
Oh shit! That's who that guy at the beginning of the episode was! I forgot Crowley is Scottish! And because of the human blood thing... He's not completely heartless anymore.
Don’t start fights please just a fun fandom question, like answer and carry on… “If Dean had a ‘normal life’ aka no hunting who would be his ‘perfect match’ ?”
