One scene that has puzzled me is Jack's reaction when Rose tells him she is getting off the boat with him when it docks. He tells her, "You're crazy", and he looks shocked, but he doesn't look pleased. Rose then grabs him and kisses him, as he just sort of stands there. Anyone else find this an odd reaction? I would have thought he would be leaping for joy, or something.

-- Bobby (bfugitt@muw.edu), February 11, 1998

Answers

Response to Jacks Reaction

Maybe he was afraid. Remember, Jack was poor and Rose was a pampered lady. Jack had only $10 in his pocket and I doubt they would have asked Cal for money. What would happen to them? I think he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to take care of her.

-- Rose (rose364@earthlink.net), February 11, 1998.

Response to Jacks Reaction

This might help. It's what Leo said about Rose's decision, in "The Making of Titanic".

Leo: "When the ship finally starts to sink, the sort of decision whether to go with her own lifestyle and be safe or take a huge chance to risk everything she's ever had comes with it."

But I think Rose was already decided before the ship hit the iceberg. And Jack could not believe her rapid transformation and her will to break up with her past and start a new life.

-- Dan Draghici (ddraghic@ccs.carleton.ca), February 12, 1998.

Response to Jacks Reaction

I also noticed his reaction but I thought it was because he knew that lifeboat was Rose's best chance for survival, and her survival was the most important thing to him.

-- Julie (joiner@stsplus.msstate.edu), February 12, 1998.

Response to Jacks Reaction

The scene they're referring to Julie, is just before they hit the iceberg. They were on the bow and Rose announced that when they get to New York, she was getting off the boat with him, and he said "you're crazy", he just couldn't believe in his wildest dreams that she would give up everything she knew and go with him. I think he was just in shock, but also very happy. I don't think he could believe his luck.

-- Caron (bianchi@iserv.net), February 12, 1998.

Your question has been answered by others above, but I thought I'd add something related to it. This may belong under one of the symbolism topics, but oh well. When the ship is about to hit the berg, the propellors do a reverse thrust; Rose at the same time also has decided to go in the opposite direction - to be with Jack and live life to the fullest. The ship hits the berg anyway, but Rose goes in that other direction and makes every day count.

-- Bob Gregorio (rgregori@pacbell.net), February 12, 1998.

Oops! Sorry about my mistake. I agree, Caron, that he was just in shock - but "happily" shocked!

-- Julie (joiner@stsplus.msstate.edu), February 13, 1998.

Maybe it's me but I didnt see it at all as a negative reaction. To me it looked like he was extemely happy and by saying "This is crazy" he was saying it to hear her confirm it. that was just the way I saw it.

-- chris (angelee426@aol.com), February 24, 1998.

Maybe it's me but I didnt see it at all as a negative reaction. To me it looked like he was extemely happy and by saying "This is crazy" he was saying it to hear her confirm it. that was just the way I saw it.

-- chris (angelee426@aol.com), February 24, 1998.

To me, this is the moment where Jack confronts the reality of their situation. Up to then, they've been two kids crazy in love, but it's been almost unreal. She's not of his class, she hasn't had his experiences in life, he's not of her world. In many ways, Titanic is *their* world--their place where they're able to be with and enjoy one another. When Rose realizes that she's ready to leave her environment and go with Jack, he suddenly has to face up to reality. Up to that moment, I don't think he expects Rose to be able to take that risk (though he sure wants her to). And this is set in 1912, and Rose doesn't really know what it's like to be part of the working world. So Jack could be seeing the enormous responsibility he'll have for her until she learns for herself the workings of *his* world. And he's what--20 years old? And he wasn't expecting his life to have been turned upside down in the few days he's been on Titanic.

But it has, and that's his moment to deal with it. How they would actually have done afterwards; well, we'll never know.

At least, that's one way to look at it. :-)

ml

-- Mary Lynne Nielsen (m.nielsen@ieee.org), February 26, 1998.

I've seen it eleven times but of course, that doesn't make me an expert......but it seemed to me when she said she was getting off the boat with him that his eyes welled up with tears. Then he said, "This is crazy." she says, "I know that's why I trust it" etc, etc.

-- Jennifer (ewing@planetc.com), March 19, 1998.

I'll tell you what bugs ME about this scene is that, lo, there they go out on deck into the cold April night air, (Theres an ICEberg right on the horizon you know), and that clod Jack doesn't even offer Rose his coat?

-- J. Smits (foo@bar.com), March 20, 1998.