Cal v. Rose = Ship v. Water

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It appears as if there is an analogy between Cal's relationship with Rose and the ship's succombing to the water. I believe that Cal is the human representative of thel ship. He is hard, cold, steel-like and unmoving. The same can be said of the ship itself. Incidentally, I believe he was an heir to a steel fortune. Rose, on the other hand, is the human representative of the ocean. As she states in the film, a woman's heart is a deep ocean. Obviously, she was referring to her own heart. Assuming all of this to be true, Titanic, as the "unsinkable" ship, was to be more powerful and dominant than the ocean itself. In the same way, Cal also attempted to exercise his power and dominance over Rose (i.e, ordering her food, threatening her, slapping her, etc.). In the end, Rose prevails over Cal. She chooses Jack's love over Cal's possessiveness. She leads what appears to be a happy life and lives to be 100 years old. Cal, on the other hand, loses his prize possession (Rose) on Titanic and eventually commits suicide 17 years later. Just as Rose prevails over Cal, the ocean prevails over the ship, tearing the steel, forcing it to succomb to nature and eventually sending it down to a watery grave.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has any thoughts on this topic?

-- WEP (WEP@carol.net), February 02, 1998

Answers

The interpretation is interesting. I recently read that Cameron stated on a TV show that the ship and Jack symbolized each other. Believe Dan D. (contributor to this site) has some exact quotes. I noticed they were both "king of the world."

-- Bob Gregorio (rgregori@pacbell.net), February 07, 1998.

Also, both Titanic and Jack sank.

-- Bob (rgregori@pacbell.net), February 08, 1998.

I think Cal as not so much the ship, but the arrogance that fuels the ship to go full speed into a field of ice in the middle of the night. Jack is the ship of dreams. Innocent by itself, fulfilling dreams for people (first class opulence, third class opportunities to immigrate). The ship is like the light side of the male principle (Jack), the powers that control the ship are like the shadow side of the male principle (Cal). The ocean is often a symbol of the feminine. Ships cannot exist without the ocean, but the ocean CAN exist without the ship. If the ship treats her with respect, and designs itself in accordance with her laws, the ship and the ocean can dance like lovers. If the ship does not respect her, then the ship will

-- (crieger@rogers.wave.bc.ca), March 10, 1998.

Carla, you were doing beautifully until you mentioned that women (or Rose) can live without men (Jack) but not vice versa. Come on, what a bunch of bullship. Go burn your bra in some other forum. I'm sorry to say that I am in total agreement with that other contributor who just can't help but come back (he's got some kind of mental problem -- first he says he's leaving but then can't shut up -- leave, turkey!!).

-- Rhonda Willows (rhondawi@prodigy.net), May 12, 1998.

I keep trying to leave Rhonda. But stimulating debate, such as you offer above, keeps pulling me back in!

-- Dan "Mental defective" Dalton (DDalton2@prodigy.net), May 12, 1998.


It just occured to me that the character Cal may be the (single) reference Cameron makes to that infamous bystander, the Californian. Maybe it's a stretch. Me thinks not.

-- BobG (bob@bob.bob), November 11, 1998.

Methinks not! Cal reacted, although badly, but Californian did nothing, absolutely nothing!

Regards, Peter

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), November 11, 1998.


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