Interpreting the Allegories in 'Interstellar'

The Role of Drones at the Beginning of the Film

·Setting the background: NASA has been disbanded for ten years.

·Hinting at Cooper's identity (not yet revealed), a sophisticated, tech-savvy man.

·Implied presence of gravitational anomalies near Cooper's home.

The Metaphor of Drones

Cooper and his two children encounter an Indian drone while driving to school. Cooper captures it and disassembles its battery, prompting Murph to say, "Can't we just let it go?" In reality, the drone symbolizes Cooper himself. The ground control center has long been shut down, and the drone has been flying silently for ten years, unknown to anyone. Without Cooper's intervention, it might have flown indefinitely. The drone is lonely and helpless, seeking something romantic yet desolate. Murph shows a hint of sympathy toward a lifeless machine, but the reality is harsh and indifferent.

The space exploration undertaken by Cooper and his team mirrors this loneliness and quest for purpose. They, too, are searching and lonely. After passing through the Wormhole, they vanish without a trace. According to Earth Time, they spend 23 years alone on Miller's planet. People know they're flying deep into space but are unaware of their experiences. Over time, Cooper becomes a memory.

In a video message, Tom echoes Murph's sentiment, saying, "I guess I'm letting you go." This is a crucial clue, echoing Murph's earlier words.

Facing the reality that they might have perished and may never return, people on Earth reluctantly let them go. Within this narrative structure, Cooper's fate mirrors that of the drone, with the drone serving as a metaphor for Cooper himself.

The Lazarus Metaphor

Professor Brand refers to Cooper and his team's space exploration activity as "Lazarus." As recorded in the Bible, Lazarus is a figure who was resurrected from death by Jesus. Despite being dead, Jesus asserted he would rise again. He emerged from the cave four days later, proving Jesus' miracle. The resurrection metaphor suggests that Cooper, entering the Black Hole, will survive, and humanity will ultimately endure the apocalypse.

The Allegory of the Three Planets

Miller: This planet has higher gravity than Earth, with a thin atmosphere and vast oceans covering its surface. It symbolizes ancient Earth before the advent of life.

Mann: With a high ammonia content in the atmosphere and a frozen surface, this planet represents Earth returning to an ice age after destruction.

Edmunds: This pristine planet, untouched and perfect, represents humanity's ideal habitat. It signifies the stringent conditions required to match with one of the billion stars in the galaxy suitable for human survival.

Metaphors/Hidden Messages: When we inhabit this planet, any damage we cause will gradually lead to its disappearance. The likelihood of finding a replacement is low, so we must cherish our planet.

When people are enamored with science fiction films, what are they fascinated with?

Technology is based on irrefutable, abstract scientific principles, leaving most people to observe from afar, unable to comprehend. However, science fiction films break down these barriers, building bridges between the masses and the complex, esoteric scientific truths.

Like the reeds, humanity attempts to challenge vast unknowns with fragile destinies, yearning to glimpse the other shore. When distant existence looms ahead, people inevitably feel a sense of detached unease, like being gripped by breathlessness in a desolate spacetime, sinking into prolonged melancholy.

When people are enamored with science fiction films, what are they fascinated with? Beyond the immediate aesthetic appeal, such as the disillusionment of history, the insignificance of destiny, and the passing of time, there lies a deeper layer. Just as within the cold steel armor and the heartless technological monsters lie humanity's soft, tender aspects and the light of hope in life and death struggles. Excellent science fiction enables people to feel the grandeur of themes like the universe and life, allowing them to momentarily withdraw from the complexities of life, gazing up at the stars (doubting, contemplating life).

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