More Symbolism
This was posted by SavvySparrow over at the Swans and Sparrows Board.
Ok, so back to the task at hand. There are people who insist that we delve too deeply into symbolism and meaning in the Pirates series. That we're seeing what we want to see, rather than what's in front of our faces. Perhaps, but I sincerely beg to differ. Most of the symbols that we've picked up aside from the Jack and Elizabeth inuendo are text book examples of symbolism. Anyone who's taken a literature class in high school and has managed to stay awake would know about universal themes and symbolism. Themes such as life and death are expressed through symbols, and AWE is no exception.
For instance, the script talks a great deal about the Green Flash. Apparently, the green flash is a sign that a sailor has returned from the dead and only occurs at sunset.
Sunrise and Sunset have, for centuries been symbols of life and death. So the fact that the sailors return from the dead at 'sunset', the symbol for death is significant. Not only that but the riddle describing the Green Flash mentions something about when sunset becomes sunrise. In other words, it IS symbolic, in my opinion, of Jack's re-birth. Beyond that, the same sort of symbolism occurs again in this scene:
THE KRAKEN - - dead, the huge creature sprawled across a long length of beach. Bleached White skin against the black sand.
Past it, the sun sets in a final golden blaze of glory.
ON THE BEACH near the Kraken, the group approaches. Pintel and Ragetti kick, taunt the monster.
PINTEL
Ahh, not so tough now, are you? Stupid fish, serves you right!
Pirates of the Caribbean 3 : script page 32
RAGETTI
(giggles)
Serves you right!
Jack stares into one huge round dead eye. Jack is oddly moved, a sad expression on his face.
JACK SPARROW
Magnificent creature. Such a shame.
WILL
How can you say that? It tried to kill you.
Pintel and Ragetti each picked up a tentacle and are slapping one another.
JACK SPARROW
Still, a magnificent creature.
JACK SPARROW
There aren’t many of the true myths left. And now there’s one less in the world.
Notice the narrator's description. Here we have the Kracken, dead on a beach at SUNSET! The writers don't arbitarily pick the specific time of day unless it means something to the scene. It's symbolic of its death, and also as Jack mentions of the mythical pirate world. I think it a little foreshadowing of what's to come. The script makes small mentions of progress and technology, and I think it's commentary from the writers about how the type of progress that Beckett would promote is destructive to past, or "true myths". Harpoons are a more modern invention, and that was brought about the demise of the Kracken. In other words, the sun is setting on the Pirate world that was filled with myths and lore. (Jack Sparrow must find his place in the new world or perish, anyone?) Also, it's telling that as the myth is dying, Jack is a man who has been reborn, meaning that he WILL find his place eventually.
One more thing. The Kracken was the indirect cause of Jack's death, a rather large, monstrous indirect cause of death. It was Elizabeth who chained him to the mast to make him face his fate. Here we see that Jack is not only willing to forgive the Kracken for its part in his murder, but that he admires it all the more...SOUND FAMILIAR? I'm fairly certain that this scene is also meant to exhibit the differences between Will and Jack's thinking. Will is incapable of seeing how a murderer can be admirable. This will more than likely come into play later when or if Elizabeth confesses herself to him. Meanwhile, if the Kracken is partially symbolic of Elizabeth, then we can glean that Jack has forgiven Elizabeth, despite his words expressing the contrary and that he admires her all the more for it...
Any other thoughts? As always, this is my interpretation. I'm sure there's plenty to glean!
Here's a link to the Swans and Sparrows Site.