Westworld Figurative Language

992 Words2 Pages

Life has no true meaning if there are no consequences for your actions and no challenges to overcome. This claim is brilliantly delivered in the season finale of the highly acclaimed TV show, “Westworld” directed by Jonathan Nolan. The season 1 finale, “the bicameral mind” fills in many plot holes in the storyline, bringing the season to a climactic ending. Through the use of emotional appeal and logical reasoning, Nolan was able to effectively communicate his message to most of the audience but his message may have fallen short with some of the viewers. In order for Nolan to effectively communicate his message, he first needs the audience to feel sympathy towards the hosts. He does this through the use of hand held film techniques, personification …show more content…

This is done through the use of symbolic imagery and epiphanies. A major theme needed to understand this episode is the “bicamrel mind”, a theory that claims true consciousness can only be achieved if one realizes that their subconscious is that of their own and not an external being. This theory is crucial for the audience to understand as it is the basis of Nolan’s main claim. Since that is a highly philosophical and psychological subject, it might be hard for the audience to understand so Nolan uses many symbolic images to explain this theory. One example is when Alfred was explaining to Dolores the significance of the maze. He says the maze symbolizes a test to achieving full consciousness and drew out the necessary steps that had to be taken to get to the center in a shape of a pyramid and made connections that could be easily understood by the audience. Near the end of the episode, two major epiphanies occur that change the full dynamic of the story and contribute to conveying Nolan’s claim. Firstly, Delores finally realizes that the voice she kept hearing was not of Arnolds, but it was her own voice and this leads her to achieving true consciousness. This epiphany supports the authors claim as Dolores has had to overcome a great deal of challenges and suffering to finally find her purpose. Another epiphany that happens is when William realizes that there is no meaning to Westworld if there are no risks. For years William has done and solved everything there is to do in Westworld, but could never find meaning as no matter what he did, he would never lose since the hosts cannot harm him. Both these epiphanies show clear and logical examples of Nolan’s claim, adding to its

Open Document