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Cast Away: Deeper Meaning

posted 3 years ago by Fandango (534)
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Some of the oft-discussed themes in Cast Away revolve around tenacity, fanaticism of the will and, perhaps most ubiquitously, the power of love. While these ideas are certainly present in the film, Cast Away attempts to present a slightly more complex and, in my opinion, more interesting thesis, which suggests that Chuck's entire plight was a reincarnation, as he sheds away his old life with Kelly and begins a new one with Bettina.

In the first scene, we see a panorama shot of a barren road in the middle of Texas, leading to Dick and Bettina’s farm. While in the first act we see the sign with both Dick and Bettina’s name, in the final act, we see that Dick’s name is missing. When Chuck delivers Dick Bettina’s package in Russia, we see him open the door with a woman. This suggests that Dick has been cheating on Bettina, with the sign still holding Dick’s name indicating that Bettina continues to be hopeful that he will return.

This is further reinforced through the soundtrack, where Heartbreak Hotel plays when Chuck first meets Bettina. An additional detail to consider is that Dick’s mistress is a redhead, slim, and attractive, similar to Bettina. This suggests that it is not much so much his wife that he is leaving, but his former lifestyle. He has “cast away” his rural American life for a cosmopolitan alternative. This is once again reified with the workers removing a wooden photo of Lenin, followed by a symbol of the USSR, indicating the removal of the Soviet Union. Note how this scene happens immediately following Dick and his mistress.

Chuck is shown as committed to his profession. He is an avid proponent and defender of FedEx, personifying the very principles and values which the company espouses. By all measures, he is a humanist, sacrificing his own welfare for others. This is why anything relating to his well-being, such as his aching tooth and relationship with Kelly, is placed on hold. Not only is he committed and considered crucial to the company, as evidenced by the Christmas party with his superiors, but he enjoys what he does. This is evidenced by the photos of him in various places, as well as his sailing certification. Chuck’s reluctance to propose and fix his tooth is not only due to his professional tenacity, but an unwillingness to “cast away” his current life.

Here we see the contrast between Dick and Chuck. While Dick has literally and figuratively cast away his former life, Chuck is literally and figuratively firmly rooted in his. His trip to Malaysia is his way of leaving his former life, as we see him leave a small present with Kelly, telling her not to open it until after the New Year. He understands that once he is married, he will no longer do what he is passionate about, but will be given an office job with consistent hours. This decision is heavily emphasized during the plane crash scene, as Chuck is distinctly shown having to select between two options: choosing the life jacket (symbolic of his current life), or the watch with Kelly (symbolic of the new life he will have). He agrees to metaphorically sacrifice his life (not picking life jacket) in an attempt to start a new one (grabbing watch with Kelly’s photo). As Chuck finds himself stranded on the island, he symbolically and literally becomes a different person, while at home he is presumed to be dead (“we buried you”).

On the island, his role as crisis manager takes on a different meaning. Although he must continue to overcome adversity every day, metaphorically, his watch no longer working represents the stoppage of time. Chuck is no longer beholden to corporate rules, and the crises he now manages are no longer on behalf of the company, but on behalf of himself.

The wave which Chuck attempts to overcome serves as an obstacle. In order to leave the island and his former life, he must overcome the wave, but in order to do so, he must first untether himself from its grasp. His aching tooth and its ultimate removal is symbolic of Chuck casting away an element of his former life and finally beginning to live for himself. The island is a macroscopic metaphor for Chuck’s former life with Kelly. Wilson, a product of the island and also symbolic of his former life, must also be cast away. The decision to either save Wilson (perish), or stay on the boat (live), reifies this notion. This is juxtaposed with the plane scene, where he chooses Kelly (accepting death) instead of the vest (life).

[–] Fandango (534) 3 years ago

The first time the viewer learns of Chuck’s aching tooth is when he is in the Red Square. There, he calls Kelly, explaining that he has no choice but to address his tooth as it is causing him a lot of pain. Kelly doesn’t answer, although the time difference means it would be around six in the morning in Tennessee. As they are synchronized, Chuck knows Kelly must be home, which is why he calls here there and not at work, yet she does not pick up. When Chuck falls asleep on the couch, Kelly appears tense, as if something is on her mind. She is unable to fall asleep, and carries a look of concern on her face as she draws nearer to Chuck. When Chuck gives Kelly what is likely a wedding ring, Kelly is once again unmoved. When Chuck finally comes home, he is met by Kelly’s new husband, the dentist who worked on his teeth five years prior. What this suggests is that Chuck’s aching tooth is symbolic of Kelly. It aches because Kelly does not want to be with him, as he has spent the past five years working on his career, subsequently delaying the development of their relationship (marriage). Although Kelly may love Chuck, she decides she can no longer wait for him.

It is here that we see the contrast between Chuck and Kelly, and Dick and Bettina. Chuck, just like Bettina, is cast away symbolically on the island, while Bettina is cast away in Texas as her husband moves to Russia. Just like Bettina, Chuck holds the hope that Kelly is waiting for him, but finds out that she has remarried, just as Bettina’s package (attempt at reconciliation) to Dick is returned. Bettina, living near a vast emptiness must come to terms with Dick not returning, which she does (symbolized through the sign no longer having Dick’s name in the end of the film). Similarly, Chuck, living in a vast emptiness of his own (the island) must overcome Kelly, which he does by removing his tooth.

[–] Fandango (534) 3 years ago

Although Dick loves Bettina, he cannot overcome his old American life; just as Kelly, loving Chuck, is unable to overcome his inability to let go of his old life.

The message of the film suggests that we must remain true to ourselves. For Chuck, keeping the FedEx package and delivering it to Bettina highlights his subconscious understanding of who he is as a person. Chuck is committed to his job and remains committed throughout his ordeal. As he delivers the package to Bettina, he is cemented as the postman. Just as Chuck remains true to his conviction as a FedEx worker, Bettina remains true to herself as a sculptor. It is likely she may have been able to return to Dick, but would have had to sacrifice that which is important to her.

In the end, what the film strongly suggests is that even though we may be thrown away, we should not sacrifice our ideals.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 3 years ago

Good essay, some good thoughts.

But I think the deeper meaning is a little less mysterious. Stop watching the clock. Live your life. Find love. Keep a goal (delivering the last package) to maintain your sanity when you feel trapped.

[–] Fandango (534) 3 years ago

Thank you for your kind comment and I apologize for the delayed response. The film's ability to address multiple, often times disparate, themes makes it excellent for analysis and scrutiny; however, your points are apt and difficult to argue.

I would add that Cast Away remarks the value of human relations as being greater than the increased capital of a company. While the hero in Robinson Crusoe eventually leaves the island, he remains tethered to his materialistic drive; Chuck, on the other hand, upon leaving the island, realizes that human connection is worth more than treasure.