Stranger Things & World Myth - Part 1
(Love Wins Gate) - Will's Father is the Mindflayer!
World religions and mythologies are filled mysterious conceptions of heroes and villains. At least one of the characters in Stranger Things isn't who we think they are, and I think it's Will.
I'm not an expert so please let me know if I've said anything incorrect about your religion. I'll correct it as soon as possible!
Elder Brains & Mindflayers in DND:
The Elder Brain operates a hive-mind, ruling a colony of Mindflayers through a telepathic connection. The Elder Brain shares collective knowledge of every living and dead Mindflayer in the colony, including their knowledge, memories, and personalities.
Mindflayers have the power to create illusions, including disguising themselves as human, much like real-life ancient deities when they seduce humans.
Additionally, multiple Elder Brains and separate colonies exist.
The Mindflayer in Stranger Things:
From what we've seen so far, the Elder Brain and Mindflayer are one entity, operating the hive-mind. The Mindflayer was a cosmic shapeshifter, often taking on different spider-like forms throughout the seasons. We've also seen the Mindflayer turn into a cloud of smoke to possess Will.
Which Begs The Question...
Did the Mindflayer impregnate Joyce? Maybe by shapeshifting into Lonnie?
Did the Mindflayer sire other children? Henry? Eleven? Kali? Lab Patients? The 12 children Vecna wanted? Holly? Derek? Maybe even Max?
Which Begs More Questions...
Who was sired from the same Mindflayer? Who are secret siblings?
Henry, Eleven, and Will? Maybe Kali too? Eleven and Kali do call each other sisters. Maybe that's a hint for the audience?
Or Henry, Eleven, Mike? Maybe Kali? (I don't think Will and Mike are related to each other. Byler!🤭).
Parallels to Ancient Mythology:
"Demeter Rejoiced, For Her Daughter Was By Her Side." By Walter Crane, illustrated for Mary Macgregor's book, The Story of Ancient Greece.
The Conception of Persephone (Will) from Greek Myth:
Zeus (The Mindflayer) was the ruler of the gods. He was the god of the sky, lighting, thunder, and the cosmos. He reigns over the skies, with the power to manipulate the weather and electricity. (The Mindflayer reaches the skies, with thunder and booming behind them. Electricity, in general, heavily ties into show). Zeus was also a shapeshifter, often turning into other forms to seduce women (Mindflayers can shapeshift).
The relationship between Demeter and Zeus ranged greatly in myths. Their daughter Persephone was either the product of a consensual love affair and/or Zeus raping Demeter in the form of a snake.
The Conception of Zagreus (Dart) From Greek Myth:
In Orphic traditions, Zeus travels to the underworld and sneaks into Persephone's bedchambers. He disguises himself as a serpent and rapes Persephone. (The scene above heavily implies Will being sexually abused and the tendril mimics a serpent).
Zeus impregnates Persephone with their son Zagreus. (Will throws up Dart after returning from the Upside Down). Zeus plans to make Zagreus his heir to the throne before his wife Hera sends her Titans to kill him. (Is Dart destined for something greater?)
The Conception of Perseus (Mike) from Greek Myth:
King Acrisius feared a prophecy that the future son of his daughter, Danae', would kill him. The King locked away the Princess to keep her from having children. (Karen is embodiment of being "trapped" in conformity).
Zeus, (Mindflayer), noticed Danae. He turned into a shower of gold and impregnated her with their son, Perseus. It's heavily debated as to whether Danae was seduced or raped by Zeus.
Perseus goes on to rescue Andromeda, a princess and his future wife, from a sea monster. (Mike vs. the Thessalhydra at Lover's Lake).
The Conception of Merlin (Will) from Arthurian Myth:
Merlin's mother, Aldan (Joyce), is depicted as mortal, virgin woman. Merlin's father (The Mindflayer) is often depicted as demon, incubus, evil spirit, fallen angel, and/or Satan himself. (Will gets possessed by the Mindflayer like a demon).
His father, with the intent to create the Antichrist, took the form of a mortal man and raped Aldan. In other accounts, he got her to fall in love with him first and laid with her several times until she fell pregnant with Merlin.
Merlin was immediately baptized, destroying his father's plans, and grew up to be a magical hero instead. (Much like Will escaping the Upside Down).
The Conception of Horus (Will) from Egyptian Myth:
Osiris, a god, was murdered and dismembered by another god, Set. He spread his parts spread throughout the land. Isis, a goddess and wife of Osiris, reassembled all of his parts. She turned into a falcon, beating her wings over his body, breathing life back into him. Osiris was resurrected long enough to conceive their son Horus. (Check out my former posts on the parallels between Horus and Will).
Parallels to World Religions:
Madonna and Child by Guido Galli
The Conception of Jesus (Likely Will) from Christianity & Islam:
Christianity: Mary, a virgin woman, was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, without sexual relations. She birthed Jesus, the human incarnation of God, who went on to perform miracles. (Did something similar to at least one character on the show?)
The conception story shares similarities to Christianity, but views on Jesus vastly differ. Jesus was a human prophet and a messenger of Allah. Not the son and incarnation of God. (Are one or more characters a prophet and messenger of the Mindflayer?)
The Conception of Buddha from Buddhism:
Maya, a princess, dreamed of four Devas or celestial guardians, carried her to the Himalayas. Their wives bathed her in a lake and she was visited by a white elephant, which entered her side.
Maya conceived Buddha, who went on to perform miracles. (Was one of the characters conceived from a dream? Dreaming seems to be a major theme in Season 5).
The Conception of Krishna from Hinduism.
King Kamsa feared a prophecy that his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva would bear a son that would kill him. Kamsa imprisoned the couple. Lord Vishnu revealed to Vasudeva that he become his son and transferred to the womb of Devaki.
Krishna, Vishnu's avatar, was born in his divine form. Devaki asked Krishna to appear a human, fearing Kamsa. Krishna turned into a human baby and went onto perform miracles. (Are any of the characters hiding their true forms?)
Based on world mythology, I believe Will's father is the Mindflayer. I also think it's possible that other characters may have mysterious, hidden lineage as well.
