The Illuminati, The Beast And The Neverending Story, or: Atreyu as Bastian’s Higher Self

As in the title, Atreyu represents Bastian’s “Higher Self” (or, “Soul”). Thus far, interpretations of the film focus on the negative aspects of Atreyu’s encounter with the Gmork. I posit that Atreyu represented Bastian waking up within the matrix /  control system depicted as Fantasia.

 

The NeverEnding Story (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)