Self-evidence Artifact:

Esther Coleman

By Wen-hao ZengSeptember 11, 2010

Background:

Esther Coleman is a fictional character in the American

horror movie Orphan. As the protagonist, Esther Coleman

pushes the story forward by completing her plan and revealing

her identity.

Background:

-The poster of Orphan.

-Esther’s portrait occupied the whole poster. -Esther stares forward with her empty eyes, exerting pressure on the audience.

-Unusual dress emphasizes “there’s something wrong with Esther”.

-Dark green background color enhance the horror aura that Esther brings.

Picture from orphan official site.

Background: (story introduction)

Quote:

“Kate Coleman and her husband John are experiencing

strains in their marriage after Kate's third child was stillborn.

They adopt Esther, a 9-year-old Russian girl, from the local

orphanage. While Kate and John's deaf daughter Max

embraces Esther, their son Daniel is less welcoming.”

Quoted from Wikipedia

Stage1: Alienating Kate:

Evidence1: Invading Private life

As the first step of Esther’s plan, alienating her adopted

mother, Kate, brings Esther advantage to totally remove Kate

later.

Esther peeks into the private life of her adopt parents in

late night. Kate recognizes the issue, and tries to talk with

Esther. During the talk, Kate learns Esther has far more

knowledge about sex than a nine-year-old girl should have.

Stage1: Alienating Kate:

Quote:

Kate: “When grown-ups love each other very very much, they

want to show each other the love, they want to express it…”

Esther: “I know, they (the ‘f’ word)”.

Quoted from Orphan

Stage1: Alienating Kate:

In this quote, Esther shows her unusual adult

knowledge. Her tone suggests that she knows the original

meaning of “the ‘f’ word”. She doesn’t take the word as an

impolite swear, but a explicit expression of what Kate is trying

to say.

Esther’s identity as a young girl is questioned.

Stage1: Alienating Kate:

After the conversation, Kate expresses her worry.

Stage1: Alienating Kate:

Identities revealed in this stage:

-Esther abnormally wish to break the relationship with her

adopted mother.

-Esther is more mature than she looks like.

Stage2: Controlling Max:

Evidence 2: The Threat

Esther brutally murders the head of the orphanage with a

hammer. However, Max, Esther’s adopted sister, sees the murder

scene. Esther takes control of Max by threatening her.

Esther sets up a scene to force Kate park her car on a hill.

Esther leaves the car and Max is alone by herself in the back

seat. Esther subsequently releases the hand break of the car and

let it run down the hill.

Stage2: Controlling Max:

Esther releases the hand break and

shifts gears to neutral.

Max is in panic while the car

slides down the hill.

Pictures from Orphan

Stage2: Controlling Max:

A red car from the back almost

crush into Kate’s car.

The snow pile stops the car and

Max survived.

Pictures from Orphan

Stage2: Controlling Max:

Identities revealed in this stage:

-Esther is a ruthless murderer.

-Esther plans her schemes in a sophisticated manner, which can

hardly be the work of a child.

Stage3: Removing Obstacles:

Evidence 3:

Esther provokes Kate by insulting Kate’s stillborn child.

As Esther plans, Kate runs towards Esther with rage. Calling for

her adopted father’s help, Esther proclaims Kate hurts her arm

badly.

To further discredit Kate, Esther breaks her arm with a

clamp in silence.

Stage3: Removing Obstacles:

Esther calls for John’s help once

Kate holds Esther’s arm.

Esther continues her scheme by

breaking her arm.

Pictures from Orphan

Stage3: Removing Obstacles:

Evidence 4:

With the help of Max, Daniel finds the evidence of the

murder in his tree house. However, Esther already planned ahead

to prevent Daniel from revealing her secrets. She ignites the tree

house together with the evidence and locks the house from

outside. Although Daniel manages to jump out of the burning

tree house, he fell to the ground unconsciously.

Stage3: Removing Obstacles:

The tree house burns with the

evidence inside.

Esther is pleased with her work.

Pictures from Orphan

Stage3: Removing Obstacles:

Identities revealed in this stage:

-Esther is willing to make intense sacrifices for her scheme. Such

abnormal dedication is not likely to be found in a child.

-Esther’s ruthless actions betray that she has lost the innocence

that a child should have.

Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:

Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:

Evidence 5: Seducing John

Kate discovers the true identity of Esther: Esther is

actually a 33-year-old woman named Leena Klammer. Her

youthful look is due to a rare disease called hypopituitarism,

which stunts her physical growth.

Esther’s scheme is to exclude John’s family members, so

that she can seduce John.

Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:

Esther applies heavy makeup on

her face in order to seduce John,

her adopted father.

Wearing black dress and high-heel

shoes, Esther lies on the couch

seductively.

Pictures from Orphan

Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:

In this quote, Esther exposes her desire without

reservation. She needs John to love her as a husband, instead of a

father. All her lies, her plans and her sacrifices are for the

seduction. Esther is driven by the thirst for adult love.

Stage4: Attempting Twisted Love:

Esther’s True Identity:

A ruthless, scheming and mature woman that is willing to use

any means to acquire adult love from a father.

Sources:

-Orphan, Jaume Collet-Serra, 2009

-Orphan,Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan_%

28film%29, September 25, 2010

-Orphan offical website: http://orphan-movie.warnerbros.com/,

September 25, 2010

Thank

you!