While looking through old files, I found this!  In October 2004, I did a short write-up on how the symbolism of the Air, Fire and Water elements might be applied in the three distinctive relationships between Clark, Lex and Lana. This is an extended version. Most of the supplementary sources that discuss the Elements include "Earth" as the fourth major Element. "Earth" is not included in Smallville's element mythos. Nevetheless, these sources do help to burgeon our understanding of the crystals' metaphoric connection to the Smallville Triumvirate.

According to the mythology developed by Smallville producers in Season 4, there are three crystals, which come together to form a "house of knowledge" -- air, water, and fire. Based on episodes that aired into March 2005, a number of greedy treasure hunters have been on the search for the crystals since the 17th Century. It's uncertain if these seekers are aware that the crystals are of Kryptonian origin, making Clark Kent the most ideal recepient of the treasure. As of April 2005, the crystal recovery has been haphazard at best and confusing at worst. However, once the crystals are uncovered, they usually signal Clark through sound frequency. Clark is led to rescue the crystals and he is to place them into three slots in the Kawatche cave wall. The three crystals, once united, will ultimately lead Clark to find the Fortress of Solitude where he will learn about his destiny.

Each Element's Possible Significance

When studying the properties of each element, it is possible to project the Triumvirate's major personality traits and how they might affect each other. Based on what has been established in Smallville "canon", the supposed human representatives of the three elements are as follows:

1. Air = Clark. Air is extensive, light and invisible. It moves, but it can also become still. Air seems to be the most appropriate symbol for Clark because of his future ability to fly and because of his super-speed which allows him to be felt yet not seen. But, there are deeper connections between Clark and the "air" metaphor. According to one source, because of air's weightlessness, air symbolizes the abstract workings of the mind; an "airy" person is believed to be a theoretical or idealistic person. Clark might be considered "idealistic" to a greater or lesser degree. He is very morally sensitive, which makes him rationalize situations based on what he considers to be good, true, and real. Yet, similar to the air's movement, his current immaturity often makes him judgmental and reactive. With reference to air's vastness, Clark's influence is currently localized to Smallville, but his future heroism will be more universal.

2. Water = Lana. Even though water is heavier than air and fire, it is not solid in its original form; it is liquid. Its original properties can be changed or transformed into solid (ice) and gas (steam). But both ice and steam can revert to the original liquid form under different conditions. This possibly explains why the Water crystal is responsible for transference or transformation. Like water in its liquid form, Lana can be changeable and inconsistent. She is a deeply emotional person, so when she becomes hyperaware or insecure, her loyalties may shift or she may appear hypocritical. She can be icy cold, but she can also be airily loyal, romantic and idealistic.

3. Fire = Lex. Once ignited, fire moves quickly and instinctively. It needs to be constantly fed. Like fire, Lex has intellectual spark, charisma, and brash instinct. Just as fire consumes whatever is in its path, suspicion and betrayal feeds Lex's insatiable acquisition of information and control. In the process, he can also "consume" others. Yet, fire can be deadly if left uncontrolled by external forces. Lex can also become destructive when he doesn't have a moral barometer. He is destined to have a bloody future and destructiveness can be both deliberate and unintentional. He is aware of this potential threat, so he currently craves positive moral influence to keep him contained.

Application to the Three Major Relationships

Sources are divided on which elements are most compatible platonically, sexually and romantically. Some say Air/Fire and Water/Earth are most compatible. Others say Air/Water and Fire/Earth are most compatible. Yet others say opposites -- Air/Earth and Water/Fire -- are very likely extremely drawn to each other as well. Is there any compatible match in Smallville mythology?

1. Clark and Lana. Air and Water share the chemical property, Oxygen. Oxygen is necessary for life and for sustaining life. Oxygen, in this context, may symbolize Clark's goodness and Lana's desire to do good things. Clark instinctively protects the underdog and those in danger while Lana instinctively attempts to see the good in people she encounters, which explains why she so easily stayed with Whitney Fordman (S1), befriended Byron Moore (S2), and has allied herself with Lex (S1+). Clark and Lana's mutual view of the world draws them closer to each other. They seem perfect for each other. However, Lana's unpredictability may be potentially problematic to Clark's sensibilities, especially since she also seems drawn to fire-like elements, such as Lex.

2. Clark and Lex. Air and Fire are both weightless yet head-strong elements. For both Clark and Lex, things must make sense; things must be rationalized. Clark rationalizes morality while Lex rationalizes necessity. Fire needs the Oxygen in Air to grow and to maintain power. Clark's goodness is essentially what keeps Lex desiring their friendship. As recent as Season 4's Devoted, he pleaded with Clark not to give up on him. The goodness Lex sees in Clark can help control his instinctive destructiveness because it makes him want to be a better person. In turn, Clark has learned to be more sensitive to his own emotional and moral struggles by interacting with Lex.

However, Lex's desire for truth about Clark's mysteriousness and Clark's lack of disclosure also feeds him. In an interesting twist, the same traits that Lex now admires in Clark may be the traits that he comes to despise once their friendship completely collapses. The Superman mythos has already established that these two young men will be morally opposed to each other. Envy of Clark, his need to become more powerful than Clark, or his need to restrain Clark in order to install his own agenda may negative feed Lex in the future.

3. Lex and Lana. Truthfully, Water and Fire are not always compatible, since Water's coolness is often used to put out Fire's heat. Fire can also condense Water into steam. In terms of personality, Lana's emotiveness counters Lex's practicality. Her hesitance counters his proactiveness. Yet, interaction that is labeled as "counteractive" in one situation can be considered "complementary" in another. Therefore, the L/L relationship is still an ambiguous pairing force.

In her normal "liquid" state, Lana provides a challenge for the emotionally reserved Lex because she can quickly fluctuate between trust and skepticism. Her tendency to be capricious and reactive may result in inner conflict about her loyalties to Clark and Lex, since she has developed distinctive relationships with both. Indeed, she already has a penchant of relying on one when separated from the other (Nocturne, Perry, Sacred). When Lex and Lana are at peace, she can help to relax him during emotional or moral distress. Shattered and Memoria reveal her potential to cushion his darkness. She is beginning to have a power to emotionally draw him in. However, Lex might eventually become impatient with her emotional flux. She opened heated arguments with him in Talisman and Recruit, prompting him to be the one to regulate their exchange. Depending on the level of Lana's reactiveness in the future, Lex might "consume" her by emotionally destroying her. On the other hand, she might emotionally "extinguish" him by either obstructing him to protect him or fully allying with his "enemies".

Lana complements Lex best when she is in her "airy" state. Adopting practicality (as she did in Kinetic) and loyalty (as she did in Memoria) will definitely increase her attractiveness to him. At present, her creativity allows her to connect with him on a very different level than she connects with Clark. During Season 1's Kinetic and Zero, and Season 2's Prodigal, they reveal how successfully creative they are together.

As an extention, their methods of communication are quite singular. Lex's ability to effectively charm Lana and appeal to her by citing John Donne in Nocturne (S2) and Rainer Maria Rilke in Legacy (S3) indicate that he's more effective when he uses literature or culture to communicate with her. In fact, their mutual appreciation for aesthetics and literature might actually increase their romantic/idealistic image of each other. Lana made particular note of Lex's romantic spontaneity in Heat (S2) and Lex declared Lana as being the one he could "come up for air" with in Talisman (S3). Whether or not their images of each other are seen as accurate by the viewership, their images of each other are real for them.

The interpretations of Air, Water and Fire in this "mythology" have not yet been exhausted. These are simply generalizations based on observation. There surely are many other applications available, but the significance of the Elements in the Smallville "canon" certainly is promising.

(Originally written in April 2005.)