Titanic Binary Oppositions Essay H/W

Discuss the ways in which Cameron has used Binary Oppositions to create meaning in Titanic.

(In your answer you should comment on his use of semiotics; you may also choose to draw upon any knowledge you have of the film language)

In this extract from Titanic, Cameron uses binary opposition’s to show the divide between the rich and poor, and upper and lower classes.

In the first scene of the film ‘Titanic’ there is a binary opposition with old and new, old being when the shot of the ship at the bottom of the ocean (this could also be seen as present and past). The next section we are introduced to is the dock where there is a opposition of rich and poor, the poor people have to go through a health inspection before they can board the ship, whereas the rich just go straight on board (because they are wealthy they would not have any health problems, obviously). The titanic its self also represents a class division by its color scheme alone. White on the top half of the ship, this represents good and innocence and it’s on the top half; which relates to social classes (upper class etc.) Where as the bottom half of the ship is black which represents death and uncleanliness.

Through the crowd we see two cars drive through and top to let out some passengers, the camera zooms into the cars, which are carrying passengers. The car is covered in gold, which denotes wealth (indicates wealth). The car door is opened and out steps the female protagonist ‘Rose’ when rose turns to face the ship the light shines on her face this suggests to the audience the impressiveness of the Titanic. However the ship not at all impresses Rose.

Rose is wearing a large vibrant purple hat that symbolizes wealth and royalty. She also wears a white dress, which suggests the fact that she is a virgin (from my own knowledge of the film, Rose loses it to the male protagonist ‘Jack’ which would have been scandalous at the time considering she was not married to him let alone engaged). Rose also wears white gloves; this is to avoid direct physical contact with the lower class people helping her out of the car etc.

Following Rose is Roses mother ‘Ruth’ who is impressed by the presence of the ship; this is a binary opposite to Rose (impressed is to unimpressed). Ruth is wearing a Green dress that gives the hint to the audience that Ruth is jealous of Rose and her life.

The less wealthy people do not wear colorful clothes, they wear greys and dull colors, and this is another binary opposition (colorful-dull) to show the contrast/ divide between rich and poor passengers.

When Rose, Ruth and Cal (short for Caledon, Rose’s Fiancé) board the Titanic she get on at a higher point than the normal people do this again shows an opposition between the rich and poor. The rich get on at a higher platform because they are more highly regarded as people and they do not have to undergo a health check; in addition the wealthy people are also allowed to take their pets onto the boat with them, whereas the poor are not allowed anything but there belongings. The people on the docks who are not first class ticket holders have to wait there turn before they can board the ship, and it is all a bit of a mad rush to get on board. On the other hand Rose, Cal and Ruth are all taking there time to get on; this gives the viewer the sense that they are more laid back. When they are boarding the boat graceful slow music is being played which yet again reinforces their high social standings. As rose is walking in with the voice over saying that she was being “taken back in chains”, “screaming inside” the light comes off of her face which reinforces the fact that she feels trapped and alone. Although she may have everything she wants she doesn’t feel happy inside. This is ironic because Jack is a character who takes every day as it comes and who feels free (but has nothing), in opposition to this is Rose who has so much yet feels unhappy with the life she is living.   

The next part of the scene is in the saloon where the audience is introduced to Jack the male protagonist who plays Rose’s love interest throughout the film. In the saloon it is dark and full of smoke opposed to light and fresh air from outside. Jack is an anti-hero meaning that he is good but he has his faults, this is shown when we are introduced to him playing poker (gambling). This signifies to the viewer that Jack is who he wants to be.  When jack wins the two tickets for the Titanic the music changes to fast upbeat Irish music (usually played on a fiddle) this reinforces the chaos and the mad rush for jack and his friend to get to board the boat in time. The upbeat music is symbolic to the working class backgrounds, in bars etc. The racing to get to the boat is a binary opposition to Rose’s entrance to the boat. 

In conclusion James Cameron uses semiotics and binary oppositions throughout to make many different links to state the clear differences between not just the two leading characters Jack and Rose but the rest of the passengers on the boat. For example the clothes that the first class passengers wear compared with the clothes of the other passengers, also the attitudes towards the boat its self. For instance Rose is unimpressed which shows that she is spoilt “a spoilt little brat even” (a quote that Jack uses later on in the film to referrer to Rose), on the other hand Jack is ecstatic that he is a passenger on the Titanic. This is a clear opposition to the audience that Cameron has decided to use to portray the two main roles.  

Word Count: 970

Word Count Including Question Title: 1011