Captain Jack Sparrow's Moral Compass, Gemini Johnny Depp and Mercury the Trickster
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was not as bad as the critics led me to believe. (SPOILER ALERT!) If Verbinski had cut the entire sequence when Captain Jack Sparrow was held captive by cannibals, it would have been a much better movie.However, I'm not a movie critic, I'm an astrologer. After the entertainment buzz lifted, I was left with two indelible images: Captain Jack Sparrow's compass, and Elizabeth Swann's angry ambivalence about her feelings towards Sparrow. The movie would have had no emotional weight without these two themes.
Johnny Depp is a Gemini, and Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury. (See my essay Johnny Depp: Messenger of the Gods.) In mythology, Hermes/Mercury is the trickster, the master of duplicity. Hermes invented lies. And what better a character than Captain Jack Sparrow to embody this archetype? Sparrow is duplicitous to the bone -- we (as well as Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner) never know where his loyalties lie. Like a true Gemini, Sparrow often switches sides. He is both good guy and bad guy.
An interesting conceit in Dead Man's Chest is that Sparrow's compass points its user to what he or she wants more than anything else in the world. However, the compass is not working for him. This makes sense: Gemini's attentions go in so many directions. Mercury has no "moral compass." Gemini explores the world without regard for right or wrong. Sagittarius, on the opposite side of the zodiac, rules morals and ethics.
Sparrow convinces Swann to use the compass to find the Dead Man's Chest -- she apparently wants it more than anything in the world, because getting the chest will get her to Will Turner. Later, the pirate attempts to seduce her, claiming that "curiosity" (a key Gemini word) about him and his lifestyle will win her over. She retorts that the compass does not work for him because he is dishonest -- if he were honest, he would know what he wants more than anything else in the world. She seems to be saying that he must not exist solely by his Mercurial nature if he is to get what he wants.
Swann seems to have more of a single-minded nature (Keira Knightley is an Aries), yet the power of the Gemini archetype does take hold of her. When the crew finds the island where the chest is buried, the compass temporarily points at Sparrow. In horror, Swann denies to herself that it is Sparrow she wants.And later, when the Kracken is attacking the Black Pearl and Sparrow is rowing his boat to safety -- thus abandoning his crew -- he finally feels a conflict between saving himself and saving his ship and shipmates. Only then does the compass point him towards what he wants more than anything else in the world.
Sadly, it is after his return to the ship (and the Kracken's temporary retreat) that Swann (presumably in her rage at him for his duplicity, and at herself for her attraction) handcuffs him to his boat, leaving him to be devoured by the Kracken.
To be continued next summer...
Tags: Johnny Depp - Keira Knightley - Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest - Mercury - Gemini - astrology - movies
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posted by Jeffrey Kishner at 7/18/2006
14 Comments:
I love this analysis! I also agree about the cannibal scene. Did you catch the extra at the end? (P.S. found you through ElsaElsa)
No, I must have left during the credits.
Hi Jeffrey-
Nice use of symbolism! I wholeheartedly agree with it. And yes, the chemistry is what made the movie work. I also mention "Priates of the Carribean" in my upcoming Sept. Horoscope column http://www.astrologychick.com/?cat=2 for the Yogi Times.
I think the world is somewhat obsessed with the darkness that pirates represent. There's nothing like a good myth to work out societies shared unconscious programming.
Love it-
Aura
http://www.astrologychick.com
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Will Turner, if I were you. Many people tend to make the mistake that because Jack and Elizabeth are so alike, they would be perfect for each other . . . and that Will is not worthy of either person's attention. I predict that Will Turner will end up surprising a lot of people . . . including Elizabeth and Jack.
You are batty! The whole movie was ablaze and you know it. Stop making cockamamie comments directed at the movie. This was not deserved at all. So give your head a brief chrun.
-Bobber.
how dare any of you criticise this film. the series of Pirates of the Caribbean are the best films ever! ever!
This is ridiculous. Even if we ignore the fact that astronomy isn't a reliable source for any kind of statement - what on earth makes you think that the actors' starsigns would say *anything* about the characters? They are, you know, *acting*. Which means that the characters *are not the same people as the actors*. The things they do, say, the things they want and mean - those are thought up and written down by other people. Other people.
The concept is probably hard to grasp, but for the love of god, try.
Nienke, actors may not write the dialogue, but they choose their roles and create their characters, and even serendipitously "fall" into roles that resonate with their own archetypal patterns.
Hi! Just wanted to say you've done an interesting analysis of this movie. I don't know if I really believe astrology, but I think it's kind of interesting after all.
Best series of films ever?... Yep!
What a load of tosh! I mean this astrology lark is quite the opposite of sense.
But they are indeed acting that is understood, yes?
Mister Sparrow was based on that blokey Keith Richards i do beleive. THUS... it has nought to do with this astrology stuff.
Corr, this as bad as those ghost hunters, this is... nonsensical ramblings of mad men!
x
I love the analysis you did on this, yes, as a role-player myself I understand what you mean about the characters and as a novice astrologer I Totally agree with your interpretation. I would like to talk more with you on this.
Peace! and Ramen.
wow some ppl r pretty harsh! these r my favorite movies in the world, but its cool how u pointed out how their characters and horoscopes r related like that, altho i dont believe in astronomy, its just interesting!
WOW THE MOVIES R NOW CONNECTED 2 @STROLOGY? G E E K B Y E
" If Verbinski had cut the entire sequence when Captain Jack Sparrow was held captive by cannibals, it would have been a much better movie."
I don't know about that. If I must be honest, one of my favorite sequences in the movie is Jack, Will and the rest of the crew's escape from the Pelagostas.
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