: theories on Electra's character and
background.
Personality: Unfortunately, we learn very little about Electra
from the movie. Her history is never revealed, except for the fact
that she and Vincent were once involved. We don't know about her
childhood, her family (if any), how she became involved with the
military and Cherious, or really anything that would let us draw
more conclusions about how she has become the person who she is.
We can, however, tell some things about her. She is very aloof,
and she does not form real relationships with others, but it is
unclear whether this is of her own accord or because she simply
cannot relate well with other people. Perhaps both. Her job is
probably her driving force, partly because of her dedication and
partly because she seems to have little else. Like any good
soldier, she obeys orders seriously and efficiently, although
when it comes to Vincent, obedience and dependence goes out the
window. Vincent becomes her motivation.
Despite her cool demeanor, serious nature, and obvious strength-
both internal and external- she does have uncertainties, mostly
surrounding Vincent. When it comes to Vincent, she is emotional.
Her only real concern is him. It's rather telling that even when
she was involved with Vincent, she was not sure she was in love
with him; this, plus how she acts throughout the movie, suggests
she is not very good at describing or thinking about her feelings.
As a soldier, she is expected not to let her emotions get in the
way of her work; however, Electra may have internalized that to
mean having little to no emotion at all. It is only after Electra
realizes he doesn't recognize her on the monorail that she begins
to understand her feelings. The monorail scene is important, not
only because it establishes the link between Vincent and Electra,
but because for the first time, we see that there's more to her
than just the focused soldier, that she has deep, personal emotions.
She seems used to working alone, which is probably how she likes
it. It's likely that she finds it difficult to trust people,
especially given her position in the military. She eventually
opens up to Spike, but only because she recognizes that he is
different and because he seems to understand her very well.
Electra is very self-reliant, which is a positive trait, but
when she applies it to Vincent, it's almost a fault. Electra
believes that she can save Vincent by herself, and there is a
sort of passionate desperation in this belief, which contradicts
the cool, emotionless facade she normally wears. Although her
determination in saving Vincent initially ends in disaster, at
the very end of the movie, it is remembering Electra that allows
Vincent to come out of his dream-like state. It really is only
Electra who can save Vincent, although it is also Electra who
kills him. (Was killing Vincent one manner of saving him?)
Tattoo: The tattoo on Electra's wrist
is the symbol for the M.A. Special Operatives Force, Unit 7, of
which Vincent was a part. That force became part of Cherious
Medical's nanomachine experiments on Titan, and everyone but
Vincent died. Vincent, the test vaccine with the
anti-nanomachines in his blood, was apparently left on Titan
to die.
Electra was not part of Vincent's force even though she also has
its symbol tattooed on her wrist. She got the mark, then, because
of her involvement with Vincent. Two possible explanations: she
got it during their relationship, or, if she believed he was dead,
afterwards in his memory.
Death Wish: Electra expected to die when she shot Vincent,
believing that he would kill her also. She knew she couldn't
save him the way she originally intended, so chose to be with him
in death. However, it's unclear whether Electra decided to die at
that moment or, if all along, she had secretly harbored that desire
(since Vincent's disappearance three years ago). More simply, the
question is whether Electra truly wanted to die. In the cell, Electra
said that she may have wanted to be saved. Saved from what is never
clear; the answer to that is probably related to Electra's reasons
for accepting death. If Electra carries a death wish, she would
not be the first- Vincent and Spike, too, also have that same,
secret desire.
The Julia Connection: It's been suggested by fans that
Electra may be a lot like Julia, one reason why Spike is attracted
to her. Since Vincent parallels Spike, and the Vincent/Electra
relationship parallels the Spike/Julia romance, it's not a great
leap to think that Electra may be similar to Julia. Like Electra,
Julia is also very mysterious, and little is known about her.
From the brief glimpses that we see of Julia late in the series,
she appears strong and capable, also like Electra. And the two
women are also alike in that they need their other half to be
truly complete; otherwise, they remain adrift. However, beyond
inferences and suggestions, there's really no clear indication
on how alike the two characters are.
Aftermath: Like many other things about
Electra, it's difficult to say what she would do after Vincent's
death. After all, she killed the only person she loved, and she did
so at the moment he finally remembered her. Although she is strong,
strength alone can't make someone live. The desire to continue must
also be present; otherwise, one dies or lives a half-existence like
Spike and Vincent.
After a tragedy, some people, no matter what, can't move on. Is Electra
like that? Having realized that she loves Vincent and then having lost
him, there seems little left for her in life. Again, she apparently has
no close relationships. It was probably her job that sustained her for
so long, or if she Vincent was alive, the hope of seeing him again, but
returning to Cherious is unlikely.
Can the strength that Spike admires so much help Electra find a reason to
live, in spite of what she has gone through? Or would she follow his and
Vincent's path? Whatever Electra's future, it is important to remember
that at one point in her life, she decided to die, and in doing so,
accepted that as her only fate.
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