Cars 1 – Nigredo: The Death of the Ego and the Dissolution of the Self
The first phase of the alchemical process, Nigredo, represents the dissolution of the ego, the descent into inner darkness, and the shattering of certainties the protagonist once believed to be absolute. This is the moment when raw lead is broken down to initiate transformation.
The Initial Lightning McQueen: Arrogance and the Illusion of Matter
Lightning McQueen begins the story as a young and arrogant race car, a symbol of speed and relentless competition. He is the perfect embodiment of the material ego: ambitious, individualistic, obsessed with success, and devoid of empathy. To him, winning is everything, and he believes he can reach the top alone, without the need for a team or genuine human relationships.
The initial setting, the Piston Cup, represents the profane and illusory world of matter, dominated by the pursuit of power and glory. However, the first sign of his downfall appears in the unexpected three-way tie, which forces him into a tiebreaker race in Los Angeles. His triumph is no longer immediate, and this uncertainty already marks the beginning of his ego’s dissolution.
The Shipwreck: Loss of Orientation and Descent into Darkness
The turning point of Nigredo is the complete loss of control. While traveling at night toward the final race, McQueen accidentally veers off the road and finds himself lost in the desert, a symbolic space representing inner emptiness and existential solitude. Without the support of his team and far from the world he knows, he is forced to confront a reality that does not belong to him.
He arrives in Radiator Springs, a forgotten and decaying town, symbolizing the mundus imaginalis, the realm of inner transformation. Here, McQueen is no longer anyone: his fame has no value, his power is stripped away, and he is literally put in chains, sentenced to hard labor to repair the road he damaged.
This is the phase of alchemical putrefaction, where the old self must be destroyed. McQueen, accustomed to being served and admired, finds himself humiliated and reduced to a mere laborer. His mentor, Doc Hudson, represents the alchemical master, the one who has already undergone the process and initially observes him with severity, like a true initiator testing his disciple.
The Encounter with Wisdom and a New Vision
During his stay in Radiator Springs, McQueen begins to see a different reality: a world built on genuine relationships, far from the sterile competition that once dominated his existence. His friendship with Mater, a pure and authentic character, helps him discover a side of himself he had never explored.
The most important lesson comes from Doc Hudson, who is revealed to be a former champion who fell into disgrace. Doc experienced the pinnacle of glory, only to be abandoned and forgotten. His suffering represents the cyclic nature of existence and the necessity of accepting the transience of matter, a key concept in alchemical philosophy.
The climax of Nigredo occurs when McQueen chooses to forgo his final victory to help the old King Hudson cross the finish line, demonstrating that his ego has been completely dissolved. This is the symbolic death of the self: the Lightning McQueen who once thought only of himself no longer exists. He is now ready for the next phase of transmutation.
Cars 2 – Albedo: Purification and the Discernment of Truth
After the death of the ego, the phase of Albedo begins, where the impure is separated from the pure, and truth is distinguished from illusion. This stage is often associated with the color white, symbolizing purification and rebirth.
A New Role, but an Identity Still in Progress
Having learned his lessons in Cars 1, McQueen has matured, but his journey is not yet complete. Cars 2 places him in a completely different context: an international competition that turns into an espionage conspiracy. However, the true protagonist of Albedo is not McQueen but Mater.
Mater, who in Cars 1 was the fool archetype, the innocent jester, is thrown into a reality much larger than himself. He is seen as a fool, but in truth, he possesses an inner purity that allows him to see what others overlook. This is the key theme of Albedo: the hidden revelation behind appearances.
The Alternative Fuel: The False Promise of Perfection
The narrative engine of Cars 2 revolves around the search for an alternative fuel, a perfect energy source that promises to replace traditional gasoline. However, it turns out to be a deception orchestrated by a conspiracy. This is a clear symbol of the false Philosopher’s Stone, a trap that promises perfection without true sacrifice.
Mater discovers the truth through trial and error, proving that true wisdom does not come from academic intelligence but from direct experience and sincerity of the heart.
Cars 3 – Rubedo: Realization and the Transmission of Knowledge
In the third and final phase, Rubedo, the alchemical gold is finally achieved. Here, the protagonist is no longer an apprentice but a master. This is the stage of true enlightenment.
The Champion’s Decline and Rebirth as a Guide
In Cars 3, McQueen faces his ultimate symbolic death: he is no longer the fastest and is surpassed by the new generation. This is the final stage of transformation: matter has reached its limit and must now transcend into spirit.
At the end, McQueen passes the torch to Cruz Ramirez, a young and inexperienced racer who needs guidance. Here, the transformation is complete: McQueen is no longer the student but the teacher, the true alchemist, the one who transmits his knowledge to another.
Conclusion: The Alchemical Journey of Lightning McQueen
- Nigredo (Cars 1): Destruction of the ego, humiliation, and loss of the old identity.
- Albedo (Cars 2): Discernment between truth and deception, purification of the soul.
- Rubedo (Cars 3): Attainment of wisdom and transmission of knowledge.
Lightning McQueen is no longer just a race car. He has undergone an inner transmutation, becoming a true master of the alchemical art.
Alessio Puppi's 