“This Could Be A Real Adventure” (Skeleton Crew 1.1) introduces Neel, Wim’s blue, elephant-like best friend and fellow student at At Attin’s school. The name “Neel” reflects Neel’s color: in Hindi, “Neel” is a masculine name meaning “blue.” Throughout Star Wars, the color blue is often associated with reason and the intellect. This fits with the symbolic significance of the animal Neel resembles: in Hinduism, the elephant-headed god Ganesha is the patron god of intellectuals, associated with letters and learning. Neel’s name, color, and resemblance to an elephant all point to his studious and intellectual nature.
The name “Neel” also suggests the word “kneel.” To kneel is to bend the knee in submission to authority. Whereas his impulsive friend Wim (suggesting “whim”) shirks his studies and goes off the beaten path to seek adventure, Neel is a responsible rule-follower, content to follow the societal script laid out for him by At Attin’s Supervisor. The downside of Neel’s temperament is that he can be timid and unwilling to venture out of his comfort zone. The positive side is that his humility makes him kind, peaceable, and open to dialogue, as seen through his resistance to the warlike ways of the Troiks in “Can’t Say I Remember No At Attin” (Skeleton Crew 1.4).
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Characters: Neel
Shows: Skeleton Crew
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Concepts: animals / names / pride and humility / reason / war and peace
Influences: Hinduism
Interpretive Tools: Tripartite Soul Theory
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