Symbolic Items in Miller's Crossing and Legs

The two characters Tom Reagan from Miller’s Crossing and Jack Diamond from Legs shares similar traits and characteristics. They both had an item that they carried or wore that showed what was going on in the character’s mind. It could tell what was on their mind, but also what was about to happen. There were times the outcome of events was determined, because the item was near the characters, and their minds.
Tom Reagan’s item was his hat. When he was wearing the hat it seemed good things happened to him. It opens with a dream that Tom is having where the hat is blown off his head, but he did not chase after the hat In his real life, Tom keeps the hat close to him at all times and at all costs. There are many times he is seen with and without

his hat. It seems good things happen when the hat is on and bad things are happening when he is without the hat. The meaning is thought to be when Tom wears his hat, he makes good choices, but without the hat it seems evil takes over his mind and actions. So are Tom’s decisions based on the whereabouts of his hat? Or is able to make his own decisions? At one point Tom replies with “what heart” after Bernie begs for his life and asks Tom to “have a heart” Tom puts a bullet is his head, while there is no hat present, and earlier at Millers Crossing he did not kill Bernie, while he was wearing his hat. The hat represents his moral compass. At the end, he is shown putting his hat on, which indicates his desire to become a good and whole person.
Jack Diamond ‘s item is his Rosary. Jack seems to have it all, except his moral compass is pointed towards adultery, stealing and killing. There are many times Jack is involved in knife fights, and gun shooting incidents in his life, but always come out of it alive. It is believed that the Rosary saved his life as he carried it. The Rosary seems to be the item that provides his decision making process. Without the Rosary, Jack seems to be lost. He had plenty of time to question some of his immoral decisions, and he uses the Rosary to find the truth when he needed it or wanted it.
In one instance, Jack found the silver rosary in his lucky blue suit jacket that came back from the cleaners, and instead of keeping it with him; he slips it back into the suit pocket. This implies Jack’s is willing to put good decision making aside, and allowing all that is good to be thrown away. Jack should have used the Rosary to help to take him down the path of “right” direction to find the pure and good person.
If Jack Diamond had consulted his Rosary on a regular basis, he would have possibly lived a longer and happier life.
The items that each character uses to guide them morally are the common similarity, but it ends there. Jack Diamond, had he clung to his Rosary would have made moral and decent decision, but instead by casting it aside, his life ended. Tom Reagan, on the other hand did cling to his hat, and his life continues with good and moral decisions making, keeping him on the “right “side of life. Each character makes the steps in which path to follow on their own accord, however the outcomes for each end differently.