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Human frailty in "Titanic"
By Louise Burton | While on its way to an incredible $575 million in domestic earnings, Titanic has encountered its share of critics, most of whom have chided the film for its historical inaccuracies. And although I'm sure many minor details in the film were incorrect, I argue that this version of Titanic is the most accurate, in spirit, of any filmed account of the disaster.
The sinking of the Titanic was neither the first nor the largest maritime disaster, yet it has lodged itself in modern consciousness more deeply than any other. Perhaps it's because the story of the Titanic reflects so perfectly the story of the human race on a larger scale: a group of people with riches and opportunities distributed unequally, but bound together in sharing the same small world and the same destiny. It is this spirit that James Cameron's Titanic captures.
This is not to say that the 1953 Titanic, with Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb, isn't powerful. Both films made me cry -- but for different reasons. In the early version, the viewer is moved by the nobility of the men left on the ship. The main male character undergoes a conversion of sorts and acts heroically as he faces the end of his life. We are not bothered with details about the third-class passengers still being on the ship. In the new movie, however, it is the selfishness and lack of heroism of most people that is so striking. As Rose said, "700 people were in the boats, and 1,500 in the water. Though there was room for many more in the boats, only 6 of us were rescued." Perhaps the most cowardly act was barricading third-class passengers below decks until first class had been placed in lifeboats.
Which version is more accurate? Though I would rather spill tears over heroism, I suspect that most people who have seen both movies would privately agree that the new movie is more accurate. Yes, we all know that there were true heroes on the Titanic. The character of Jack Dawson in the new version was heroic, and we caught short glimpses of others. But for all of us who have rubbed shoulders with fellow human beings for several decades or more, we have seen enough incidents where the masks of charm and civility and sweetness and good manners have slipped on enough people to show us that, in a pinch, most people are selfish and petty rather than heroic. We also have the dubious honor of knowing our own hearts.
In fact, the new movie raises the question: is it worth saving people at all? Given that so many people demonstrate only self-concern when death is imminent and the masks become unnecessary, why bother to save any so that they can pursue more selfishness, albeit disguised with civility?
Of course, that's the point, isn't it? Despite our talk about total depravity, original sin, and moral erosion, we really do think of ourselves and other people as ... well, generally likable at least. We will be good company for Jesus when we meet him in the air, we think, though of course we will say we don't deserve the riches he will bestow on us.
Titanic serves as a corrective to rosy thoughts about the human race. These people were so ordinary, so much like the rest of us (despite the riches). In ordinary circumstances they would probably greet us with a smile and inquire politely about our health. We might chat about interesting things and enjoy each other's company.
If we honestly look at human history, replete with cruelty and pettiness, we should conclude that humans are not worth saving. However, notice that the makers of Titanic are hoping that salvation is possible. That's evident in the final scene, when the decayed boat is again restored, and those who died have come back to life. The third class passengers are now on equal footing with the first, and death has been overcome. It movingly portrays the words (from Revelation) spoken by a clergyman on the deck of Titanic just before it sank: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth has passed away, and the sea was no more ... He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more." James Cameron may not realize it, but he has hit upon the only possible way of salvation for humans: a miraculous defeat of death and decay by someone far greater than us (and God's the only one who fits the bill), who does for us better than we deserve.