The Darjeeling Limited – Symbolism Revealed
22 Monday Sep 2008
Written by Josh Lipovetsky in Film Analysis
Share it
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 does he not bury 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.
More Articles!:
8 comments
November 25, 2009 at 1:48 pm
In general I think this movie is a case study examining a families attempt to cope with trauma. That being said I disagree with your analysis of the feathers. I believe that they are symbols of the brother’s pasts.
Metaphorically they want to be able to “bury the hatchet” and put their fathers death and mothers abandonment issues behind them.
Francis puts his feather under a rock. He ignores and tries to disregard the past. You can see this reflected in his behavior towards his brothers throughout the movie. Even in the opening scene he ignores their separation and emotional distance by plotting out this collective spiritual journey.
Additionally throughout the movie Francis’ behaves as though he isn’t seriously injured. I believe the audience is asked to examine the motives of his accident. Was it truly “an accident” or a suicidal cry for help?
Symbolically the bandages show that he is healing from deep wounds both physically and emotionally. It is only later in the airport that he can acknowledge and expose his wounds in the presence of his brothers.
Comparatively Jack holds his past close to his chest. He lets the past dictate his current actions. Jack is haunted by his mother’s constant abandonment. Due to this crippling fear of abandonment Jack masochistically seeks out women that he knows will leave him. Through sexual escapades Jack seizes control by vicariously responding to the women he is with as though they were his mother (as reflected by the opening vignette). He desperately wants to not care.
By far my favorite movie symbol involved Peter. He wears his father’s sunglasses which aren’t even his prescription. He blinds himself to the world by seeking to emulate his father because he is scared of being inadequate. He was powerless during his dad’s death which shook his confidence. He now doubts his abilities as a husband and a father himself. Although he tries to emulate his dad his behavior is more reflective of his flighty mother. One of my favorite scenes is on the bus just after the experience with the death of the small boy. Peter’s eyes are open and clear. It’s the only scene where he does not have an eye cover.
November 25, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Wow, you nailed the purpose of the movie right on the head! A character study of family members who have gone through a trauma. And some may believe that they are acting absurdly, but it’s just human nature!
In general, Darjeeling Limited is definitely up there as one of the most complex movies I have ever seen. It really is symbolic of many things.
About the feather, I completely agree with your interpretation. As I stated previously, the feathers have multiple meanings. Each of the brothers lives were completely different. As you would expect, the way they deal with their feathers is different. I believe that the feathers deal with the past, present, and future.
In terms of the past: That is what you interpreted. The brothers coming to terms with the death of their father. They all deal with past trauma differently.
In terms of the present: What I wrote in my analysis: How they feel about the way their life is going at the moment. By burying the feather under a rock, he was in denial, as you stated. He just wanted to erase the past, on move on with his life the way it was before.
In terms of the future: The feathers can also represent where the brothers would like to go, and their respective rituals for the future.
The past/present/future are just 3 ways to analyze the feathers, but there are even more possibilities. What genius filmmaking!
Maybe the injury was a suicidal call for help? Again, it’s so open-ended. I really like your view on the injury, and I would definitely understand if it is a cry for help. He does seem to feel sorry for himself.
It’s a shame about Jack, though. He might be scarred for life, and unable to be in a stable relationship. Wow, that glasses symbol went over my head! Blinding yourself to the outside world by physically impairing your vision? Talk about a direct metaphor!
And the scene where the boy dies is very sad. Horrible as the event was, it gave Peter some clarity on his situation, and a realization that things weren’t so bad.
Thank you so much for your comment, I really appreciate your deep insights!
Josh Lipovetsky.
June 23, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I don’t know if it was the intention of the writers, but for me, the lost train represents the essence of the film. If someone asks me to summarize the film, I would say; “Life is like a train, and sometimes even trains can get lost while still on their tracks.”
For Francis, surviving from the suicide attempt was the point where he stopped his train and studied the map in front of him.
June 30, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Thanks for the insights, I’ve got a few of my own:
When the train gets lost I recall Francis repeating what Brendan says; “We can’t locate ourselves right now” or something on those lines. The train’s journey is a spiritual one for the three brothers, and that quote shows how lost they are after the their father’s death a year ago, and their mother’s abandonment.
I’m still not sure about the feathers. But I agree that it’s telling that each brother does something different. I view this as showing how they are not on the same wavelength. We are told by Francis that they used to be so close when they were younger, this scene could represent how they’ve grown apart. And later in the film they perform the blessing together, correctly, showing their renewed togetherness, looking to the future with optimism.
I interpreted the brothers dropping their luggage as they run for the Bengali Lancer as leaving all their baggage behind, metaphorically aswell as literally. I just love the simplicity of that image.
I really enjoyed the Darjeeling Limited, not just on an entertainment level, but also the deeper meaning and timelessness of the symbols it presented. Also, a fantastically apt soundtrack.
Alex
July 11, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Very comprehensive review of movie The Darjeeling Limited. After reading the review I would like to see the movie. Thanks for sharing it.
July 11, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Glutton Cat,
I really like your unique viewpoint! It’s hard to compare life to a train, because life is much more shaky and uncertain than the path of the train. But I agree with your analysis. I can only imagine that surviving a suicide attempt would leave you with a lot of questions. And if you can find the right answers, you can turn your life around.
Alex,
You’re welcome for the insights!
I think the movie deals with many themes of loss in life. Literally and figuratively. When they incorrectly performed the feather ritual, they were all disconnected. But in the end, they became reconnected. I absolutely agree! The movie is so complex, but it contains a few simple messages. Leave behind your emotional baggage. Give up your past, because it is blocking your ability to live and love.
And I loved the song “Champs Elysées” at the end. It’s an absolutely classic, and it went so well with the credits!
Aqeel,
Thanks! You should watch the movie; it’s not for everyone, but if you’re on this website, I’m sure you will love it!
December 4, 2010 at 10:43 am
Just found this site from Wiki–DJL is a top 5 movie for me. Although the comments concerning self reflection with the feathers, Frances’ “accident” on the motorcycle, etc..For me , the movie is easily summarized as “brotherly love.”
My favorite scene is when Frances ends his story of his accident (brilliantly written and performed) by standing then telling his brothers he discovered what was most important “All I could think when I woke up was I wish Jack and Peter were here.” Nothing else matters. A good scene to remind yourself of what really is important and what is just ego and pride–which each brother displays at varying levels.
To bring home my point of the movie as simply about brothers’ love, remember a shirtless Jack yelling at a burley tow truck driver to “get back in taht truck”
Despite the emotional trauma of their father’s death and how each brother is dealing with it in their own way during the flashback(Frances pseudo-control of the situation as the oldest, Peter as an emotional basket case as the middle child, Jack as the desperately seeking his father’s attention youngest sibling–”I guess he didn’t have time to read my book”–the brotherly bonds, despite whatever conflict is in play, are easily summoned when Frances enforces Jack’s command to the tow truck driver. Fight one of us and you fight all three.
I think the brotherly love theme allows the director to work out any jealousy and curiousity he has–shared by anyone who have never felt part of an inner circle of brotherly love–encountered since discovering and making the Owens’ brothers.
This could have easily been a story based on actual events of the Wilson brothers’ lives. But, what do I know it could be loosly based on Peter, Bobby and Greg after Mike Brady passed away.
May 22, 2011 at 8:37 pm
The most telling scene for me is when the W’s run to rescue the children in the river, after which Peter sadly announces “I couldn’t save mine.” and they walk silently to the village with death. The material possession journey ends there. The brothers have, in the first part of the movie, struggled to claim and hold objects as their own: the glasses, the belt, the loafer and the car keys… to the father’s car. They regrouped to save the kids like they regrouped to save the symbolic father memory embedded in that red car. That is what they sought out to find, a sense of family value. They find that in the only true adventure of the trip, the unplanned accident in the river and the awknowledgment of their feat as they stand witness at the funeral.