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The Darjeeling Limited - Symbolism Revealed

posted 17 years ago by chezzy62
45 replies | jump to latest

The Darjeeling Limited is not intended for everyone, and will surely be disliked by many movie critics. To capture the true beauty of The Darjeeling, you must understand the symbols presented throughout the film. There is a large amount of symbolism in this movie, but the 3 main elements are: the 3 feathers, the belt, and all of the suitcases carried by the brothers. Each object carries a symbolic message, which can be viewed upon close interpretation of the film.

Each brother is presented with a feather. These feathers can represent different things; but one of them is they way you feel about the way life is going. When they perform the ritual, we can clearly see that each brother feels differently about the way their life is going. Francis Whitman (Owen Wilson) performs the ritual correctly, symbolizing that he is excited about his future, and will keep his past in the back of his mind (burying the feather under a rock). Francis feels that his spiritual journey will change him for the better. Peter Witman (Adrien Brody) does not feel the same way about his life. Not only doesn't he burry the feather, but he keeps it. This symbolizes the feeling of being incomplete. With a baby expected in the next 6 weeks, he feels uneasy and confused, not sure where his life is going. Peter is scared to let go of his past, and move forward. He fears a major change in his life, and is afraid to break out of his comfort zone, so he keeps the feather. Finally, Jack Whitman (Jason Schwartzman) lets the feather get blown away by the wind. This represents unhappiness and anger. Jack wants to forget his past, and to start a new life. He does not want to get involved in conversations, and writes short stories to help him move in the right direction (seeking happiness). The stories were described by Peter to have an angry nature. But the wind can only take a feather so far, and Jack will eventually have to confront his feelings in order to move on.

Francis carries a valuable belt, which represents love. The belt carries old, loving memories of his past; and at times, he gave the belt to Peter, ready to leave his old memories behind in order to create new ones. However, when Francis feels unhappy/depressed/angry, he seeks the old love again by taking the belt away from Peter. This happens a few times throughout the movie, symbolizing that Peter is not yet ready to give up a material object of love. Whenever Francis gives his belt to Peter permanently, it is a symbol that he is happy, and has created new loving memories on his journey. He is also passing his love down to Peter, who is in desperate need of it. As one would say, "Let the belt work for you as it did for me".

One more element of symbolism in The Darjeeling Limited are the suitcases of the brothers. All of the suitcase represents the past lives of the Whitman brothers. Whether it be happy, sad, or neutral memories. Whenever they travel, they always keep their suitcases close-by. However, as they experience a spiritual change towards the end of the movie, they don't need their past anymore. While running to catch a train, they all throw their suitcases on the ground, leaving them behind. This is the turning point of The Darjeeling, symbolizing that all 3 brothers have experienced a spiritual change, and are ready to make new lives for themselves. Shortly after, they perform the feather ritual together correctly, a symbol of true change.

The Darjeeling Limited is a movie based on symbolism, with a message behind each line, character, and event. You may have to re-watch the movie to gain the intended insight of the director. But The Darjeeling is meant to be a work of art, not an entertaining film. It is a symbol of life, and the things we do as a people in order to change our own.

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[–] thekillingbottle 16 years ago

Jesus your post reads like a B minus Community College Film paper.

Take a summer off. get a real job. Get money to go to a real college.

[–] mmobini 16 years ago

You forgot the biggest element in the film (even the name of the film is based on it) --- THE TRAIN.

lets hear what people think of what the Train represented.

[–] samgslp 16 years ago

First off, symbolism is largely subjective. Sure, a symbol is a directorial tool used objectively to get an idea across, but you and I could disagree on what a particular symbol signifies.

That said, you're trying way too hard to pick out significance. Simply put, Wilson's character is like their mother: orderly, selfless, introspective. Brody's character is, presumably, like their father: materialistic, independent, capable, to-the-point. Schwartzman's character is somewhere in between, but he's unique, passionate, and impulsive. When it comes to the feathers, the prayers, the itinerary, etc., the qualities of the characters come out. It's really good, consistent writing and directing, but I don't think it's the key to "understanding" the movie. It is what it is.

The suitcases and the bags are baggage. It is , hands down, the most overt symbolism that I have ever seen in a film. Baggage from their father's death.

The train is the most important symbol in the movie. I don't think it represents any one concise concept. I think it symbolizes progress, life, and moving forward. A train, unlike a car or an airplane, can only move one way: forward.

That interpretation makes sense to me, specifically in the following to aspects: first, at the end, they throw their bags aside to get on the train. You can all figure that one out. Second, the scene in which they all "communicate [their] feelings without words" we see a train with everybody living their own lives in separate compartments. That scene is interesting.

Lastly, the cigar in the film? It's just a cigar.

[–] hebawom 16 years ago

I found it interesting you thought the mother was self-less!! I thought she was extremely selfish. They spoke about her being perpetually absent through-out their life. Her explaination of not going to the funeral (to be there for her children) was she didn't want to. And she left them after their epic journey to see her. I thought she was very selfish.

"I do believe in fairies, I do, I DO!!"

[–] mmobini 16 years ago

definitley a great post man. I thought the same thing about the train symbolizing life and going forward. (obviously).

but the scene where it shows everyone living their own lives in separate compartments, in the context of the film, what is that scene trying to communicate?

[–] Polishleprechan 16 years ago

Kind of off topic, but I think it relates to symbolism: Was Bill Murray supposed to be the ghost of their dad or something?

"What's another word for douchebaggery? I don't want to use it a third time." -Grumpy

[–] samgslp 16 years ago

Thanks for the kind words. It's funny: just by chance, I'm watching that scene right now. It's the most abstract and confusing scene in the movie, but here's my impression.

I don't think it's symbolic at all. The characters are communicating without words in that scene. So when each member of the family looks at each other, they are able to see each other clearly. And at that moment, everything from their lives connects. That is why we see each character that has relevance, whether they are a character in the story or just mentioned but never seen (IE Peter's wife).

But Bill Murray doesn't seem to have any great significance to any of them. So, maybe somebody else can take my thought and add on to it in a way that makes sense to most of us.

We can do it without words, if you'd like.

"He lifted her shirt over her head. 'I love you,' she said, 'I never hurt you on purpose.' He nodded. 'I don't care.' He would not be going to Italy."

[–] igby571 16 years ago

After the OP's post, which I didn't really like, there's some good stuff here. Here's my take on the train scene toward the end:

To me, the scene illustrates the old cliche that life is not a destination, it's a journey. The train is sort of like life in general. We are all on one long train and whether you are aware of it or not, it's moving forward.

The boys aren't on the train during this scene because they are stuill stuck in the past. While the boys are stuck in this moment with their mother, the businessman travels, Allison looks forward to the birth of her son, Jack's ex drinks here bloody marys, and the lion awaits it's next meal. Life moves on.

The last scene of the brothers dropping their "baggage" is important because it shows them coming to terms with the fact that in order to jump back on the train of life and move forward, they need to let go of the past that's weighing them down.

[–] brupey-1 16 years ago

Everyone's on their own journey, but they're all going to the same place!

[–] Ash1409xxx 16 years ago

Peter didn't bury his feather,

Jack and Francis got rid of theirs in some form.

Peter doesn't 'save his,'

Jack and Francis do.

Peter is going to have a kid in six weeks,

therefore his child is perhaps a reincarnation of the boy who is not saved.

Also, when the Whitman brothers enter that village, and Peter is carrying the boy one can hear a train going by in the distance on the soundtrack.

And- when Peter first jumps onto the Darjeeling Limited that one young boy stares him down_
why oh why?

such a trip, this whole film, really and truly

[–] khanscience 15 years ago

Bad-ass interpretation! I was all the way with you, until the last paragraph. Then I realized that you mistakenly wrote "to" for "two" - and we're back on the same page!

Well... 'cept a train CAN move backwards...

However, quite an astute, and enjoyable, interpretation.

p.s. How could you ever think that the stupid TRAIN could be a symbol in the movie?!?!? (kidding)

He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. -Nietzsche

[–] quatrixj 16 years ago

Or sometimes a cake is just a cake. Get a grip.

[–] samgslp 16 years ago

Agreed. What sounds like an epiphany today sounds like pretentious BS tomorrow. That's when you know it's true- what the doctors diagnose as a case of fail, directly brought on by trying too hard.

Cake is, indeed, just cake. The fact that it is delicious should not make you eat more than is healthy for you.

[–] glasspopcorn 16 years ago

I agree with the poster who said that the feathers represent how the characters want their lives - Francis needs order, Peter needs material comfort, and Jack needs release. The belt idea is intriguing, but I think the constant exchange between Francis and Peter represents the boys' struggle to hold memories and representatives of their father's life. I think the bags represent baggage. It seems frank and direct, but in a way, it's very relatively symbolic. They haul around the bags until the very end, when they let go of them in order to board the train, or their new life, which brings me to the next interpretation. I believe that the Darjeeling Limited itself represents life. Constantly taking you from one place to another, with many oddities and obstacles along the way.

We all deserve to die. Even you, Mrs. Lovett, even I.

[–] chezzy62 15 years ago

Hey guys, I read through this thread. A lot of excellent insight on this movie here! Darjeeling Limited is such an open-ended film. I appreciate you guys voicing your opinions on the movie :).

Visit http://wwww.filminsight.net for more articles written by me.

[–] rayan-chokor 15 years ago

I disagree ..
You can never know what the writer meant .. that's the beauty of it ..
And writer sometimes use stuff from their past that we cannot understand, but eventually we will relate to it ..

[–] jesikuchis 15 years ago

I think this is a movie that can be seen in different ways. And that's what makes it so attractive to me. All of your thoughts are very interesting.

I don't do too much talking these days

[–] unkma 14 years ago

Regarding the feathers; I think it's quite obvious, that they represents each of the character's relationship with their (dead) father. Francis burried his f(e)ather, he lets him go, on the other hand Peter caries him around (just like his glasses, keys,..) in a way he doesn't want to say goodbye, while Jack pushes him away, he lets the wind take him and go to the north (he might even pass the burden to his mother, she lives in the north in Himalayas?).

On the end of the movie, they decide to burry their f(e)ather together as brothers, so they are all ready to move on.

If i recall correctly, the ritual takes places on the mountain top = closer to heaven?

I also found quite confusing, the part of the movie in the workshop in USA, when they are going to pick their fathers Porshe. It could represent their father. There is a extra baggage in the trunk, they want to start it, although it has no battery =dead, for me it kinda represent that they want to revitalise him.

I haven't notice any posts about it, but I also find their servants quite simbolic; all three of them are like angels for the brothers. The bold guy helps organizing thinks for Francis, The indian guy helps Peter with the snake and Rita helps Jack with his emotional problems.

More and more I think about the movie, I'm getting to three simbols, father, burden and life. so in a way for me it's a movie about saying goodbye to a father, but this is just my opinion...

[–] Uniphikus 14 years ago

I wasn't in a symbol minded mood when I started watching this film and I made it through a good portion before I started picking them up. The itinerary was the most glaring to me. When Owen Wilson mentions that its laminated and that his assistant had to bring along a laminator to India with them I thought that was pretty ridiculous. However when Owen Wilson tries to tear up his itinerary in the airport it became obvious to me why they couldn't have non-laminated itineraries. It's because you can't tear up "god's" plan for you. Pretty simple symbol that took a pretty bizarre plot device to convey.

Concerning the boys' parents...the baggage at the end was their father's, not their own. That's the kind of thing you let go of. As for their baggage, it was a mess and they needed to sort through it and organize it. Leaving your own baggage behind is also another way of saying 'running from your problems'. At the end of the film they were prepared to deal with theirs. Now, their mother, while seemingly a bit cruel, acted the way she did to symbolize them becoming full fledged adults. There comes a time when boys simply don't need their mommy's anymore and they realized that. Their mom had a life to live and a man eating tiger to deal with and the three boys were all well into adulthood, they needed to figure their stuff out on their own.

"Ah, nothing like a warm fire and a Super Soaker of fine cognac."

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] film_ophile 12 years ago

unkma: feather/father. that's so simple but brilliant (you're the only one who has made that analogy w/ how they treat the feather equaling how they feel about their father. brilliant. and i think your sense about the car is also perfectly astute. thank you!

Given what i've read on this thread and through Googling reviews, the only original thought i've had regarding symbolism is not really meaningful, just trivial. I noticed that whenever francis talks about his belt, he talks about money/how much the belt cost. so i thought the writers were just making an in-joke belt/ money belt inference. But also, a belt , as an item of clothing, makes you feel secure so i thought the writers might have chosen it for that reason.

The way to have what we want
Is to share what we have.

[–] vendor-14 11 years ago

I just saw this movie for the second time after having seen it on its original release. Since then, both my parents have died, most recently my dad. From this new perspective, I now see that this movie is not just a coming of age story but is more about moving beyond grief. So I see the brothers' burden not only as unresolved issues but also as grief. Therefore, when they finally cast off their father's suitcases, they are embracing their adulthood and putting aside the burden of their grief.

My siblings and I are now living through another aspect of grief that is strongly featured in this movie: clinging to objects and endowing them with powers so that they become totems representing the dead parent. At the time of the father's death, the brothers made the Porsche into a totem. They couldn't save their father from dying in the street, but they could revive his mechanical counterpart with a new battery and the part that is coming from Stuttgart. They had to find all his special suitcases, including the one in Porsche, and have an equal share of Dad's stuff as a means to have an equal share of the connection to him via his possessions. It was only after the brothers literally became men on top of the sacred hill that Peter was able to take off the glasses and Frances was able to part with the belt for the sake of his future nephew. These objects could finally become heirlooms rather than totems.

The revival of the Porsche served an additional purpose: it demonstrated that these brothers could instantly snap into teamwork showing that underneath the distrust, sadness, anger, and grief there was a fundamental connection that could not be broken. Even though they thought Peter was nuts to want to drive the car to the funeral, Jack and Francis worked with Peter to try to get it going. Together they stood down the angry driver who confronted them. A year later, after isolating themselves from each other and lapsing into distrust of each other, they still snapped into an effective team when they needed to save the drowning boys. It was this selfless experience that drew them out of their individual misery and brought them back together as real brothers who were ready to put aside their grief and start living again.