My take on Ghost Dog (spoilers)

I saw Ghost Dog a few years ago in college. I liked it a lot, but I didn't fully understand it. I just got done watching it so I'm pretty much just writing this to get some of my thoughts and reactions out.

To me, this is a film about death and violence, and how Eastern and Western philosophy differ on these subjects. The film starts off by emphasizing the importance of understanding and meditating on death. Those who do not understand death do not understand life. They have absolutely no right to kill or put violence upon this world. Most Americans are afraid to think about death. This is why we live in such a violent culture. Better them than me. The Mob, whom I believe are representing a large part of ignorant America, and the white man in general ("stupid *beep* white man") kill without remorse. They kill without purpose. They kill bears because there aren't many left, so they have to seize the opportunity when they see one. They kill because of racisim. They kill an innocent man on the roof because there's a "chance" he might be Ghost Dog. These men are naieve, hence the reason they are always watching cartoons - cartoons (like the one at the end with the mouse and cat out-gunning each other) that show us how absurd violence is in general.

Ghost Dog follows a code, and he dies a happy death because he sticks to that code. He follows the ancient, natural way of the samurai. He only turns to violence out of necessity. He is indebted to his master and reborn into a world of violence. Because of the glimpse of death that he caught when he was being beaten as a young man, he turns to the way of the samurai. He stared death in the eyes, hence giving him a sense of rebirth. His master is the reason he is alive and has experienced this rebirth, so he must stay loyal to him.

The movie basically juxtaposes Ghost Dog's eastern philosophy with the Mob's Western Philosophy. It is evident early in the movie in the scene where Louie is talking with his boss about Ghost Dog's job gone "wrong," that Jarmusch is mocking these men. They sound like complete idiots because they have never bothered to contemplate death. They kill and murder with no thought to what it means for themselves and the world. This is sadly true of America as a country and our military policy, though I won't get into that.

In the end, Ghost Dog's master has betrayed him, so he is no longer indebted to him. He has finished the book, he has come full circle with his way and his code, and he has no more violence to bestow upon the world. He cannot kill his master because he is the one who gave him these realizations, so there is no one else for him to kill. He lays down his weapons and accepts death. This is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful deaths I have ever seen on film. This movie, in it's own weird way, is the most beautiful meditation on death I have ever seen. Amongst all the mob violence, Ghost Dog has found a way to see the beauty in death.

I haven't fully explored the theme of the birds yet, but I believe Jarmusch is trying to show them as messengers. In the end, Ghost Dog has had a profound effect on Louie, the young girl and the ice cream dude. Louie will likely read Rashomon, which, like the young girl, will make him realize that there are multiple perspectives to every story or, in other words, there are many different ways or codes, and it is important to explore them instead of just settling into a nihilistic, violent way of life. This book will probably have a profound effect on him. The Way of the Samurai book will likely change the young girl's life as well. Ghost Dog is a messenger, much like the birds. He is bringing this ancient eastern philosophy to the confused, naive, violent world of America.

Overall, I think Jarmusch has created a poetic masterpiece that expresses the naturalistic beauty of eastern philosophy, and the need for Americans to explore it. We must learn to look at death in a different way and find our own way or code of honor. Because without one, we can only violently make our way through this world in our march toward a fearful death.

Sorry if that's a lot of rambling, I just wanted to get my thoughts out so that I didn't lose track of my understanding of the film. I'd love to hear what other's have to say and if anyone has similar/opposing views of what Jarmusch is trying to say