"Titanic," The Film By James Cameron

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"Titanic," The Film By James Cameron

By Phoenix Morric
Sept. 20, 2004

“Titanic,” the film by James Cameron produced in 1997, reveals how different people react in a life threatening sociological perspective.

There’s a lot of symbolism in this film and we’ll start with the chapel scene, and the hymn being sung by the wealthy:

“We cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea….”

Millions have seen and own this film and for a myriad of reasons: top name actors and actresses, the love story, historical accuracy, and the obvious virtual tragedy. I would like to take and view it from a sociological perspective, when life is soon to end. Each soul reacts in its own way: who will fight to the bitter end, and who will accept and realize there’s no way out.

April 14, 1912, the maiden voyage of the “Ship of Dreams,” as it was called. Everything about it was new, including its size, its engines, and nothing had been broken in. It was to be the Captain’s final crossing before he retired, but not what he had in mind. In the movie, he is pressured to light the last four boilers, to give NYC headlines and surprise them by arriving early, not just marvel at the ship, itself. Papers got their headlines, but again, not in the way planned. (Of note, Titanic was made of iron and had water-tight doors, but could stay afloat with four breached – not five. Five were obviously breached when they hit the iceberg.)

In our specific sociological look at how humanity deals with tragedy, specifically dying, this movie offers both very touching and cruel reactions from the 2,200 souls who were abroad – and there were not lifeboats to accommodate even half that number because “it was thought the deck would look too cluttered.” Another very important note about this maiden voyage of Titanic was class separation. Specifically rich from poor, which can be heard in such lines from the comment “I hope the boats will be seated according to class.” “Rose,” the daughter of the woman who says this, finally erupts and tells her mother to “shut up! The water is freezing and their aren't enough boats by half!" Her fiance, played by Billy Zane, casually says, "Not the better half." The specific class division is most vividly portrayed through the gates to the lower decks being locked so as to prevent escape of the poor to fight for survival. Everytime they try to ascend the stairs and escape to make an attempt for life, they are redirected to another flight of stairs. (Thus reducing the amount who will need to be put in a boat and saved. Seemed the mentality was: who needs to care for the poor?)

Also in the film, class distiction is depicted as the poor get searched for lice, while the wealthy do not.

Two very touching scenes in this film are an elderly couple, lying on their bed together, holding each other for the last time, sharing thier love rather than attempting the freezing black cold which they know they won't survive. The second is of a mother, telling her two small children a bedtime story of the Celtic tradition - about the Land of Tir-Na-Nog, land of eternal youth and beauty. For in her heart she knows her babies will suffer less if it's over quickly, which will help her, as well. (She had already tried the locked stairwells and made the decision to put her babies to bed in peaceful sweet dreams and show them love so that could be a final memory of this life that was positive.)

"Rose," (Kate Winslet,) falls in love with a poor young man with good heart, "Jack." (as played by Leo di Caprio.) It's just not in her to marry "Cal," (Billy Zane,) heir to a railroad fortune,yet already an arranged marriage. He is selfish, materialistic and domineerng. "Cal," in his efforts to save his life tries to bribe one of the crewman to let him on, and the crew member looks at him, then finally throws it at him saying, "Your money can't save you anymore than it can save me." "Cal," is shocked, so he reverts to something darker since bribery won't work, and grabs a crying, frightened child, screaming "I have a child!" He lies, and tells another crew member "I'm all she has in the world." Once in the boat, he passes the kid off to someone else and begins using an oar to beat people off so they won't swamp his salvation. (boat)

Of note, "Cal," is deeply jealous of "Jack," because he assumes money will by him the wife of his choice, not love. He goes so far to set "Jack," up and lie to get him out of what he feels will be his and "Rose's," life. (he sorely understimates his fiancee.)

As more and more people run aft, because Titanic went down by the fore of the ship, before it split in two "Rose," and "Jack" realize this is where they first met. He talked her out of jumping to her death because she felt trapped, and hated her life her mother and everyone else around her was planning for her.

In the aft section, there is a priest, praying, crying a bit, and trying to offer succor to those about to die when the ship goes under.

I highly reommend this movie for an excellent study in how poeple react to dire situations.

1500 went into the sea that morning, with 20 boats nearby. Only 1 returned and checked for those who might still be alive. Out of 1500, 0nly 700 survived.

I find interesting, too, is that a boat from Nova Scotia was dispatched to clean up the "floating graveyard."

Deep thank to James Cameron for this movie and the names and quotes from the movie are his.

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About the author: Phoenix Morric is a published poet - see her under her name Deborah Holeman at WWW.Poetry.Com - where she has pieces there. She has fronted bands in Austin, Athens, Seattle and New York City. Currently she is working on her first novel and shopping for an agent. All queries, comments, please direct to: PMorric88@msn.com. Serious only, please.

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