Breaking Down Wall-E
Here on Planet Pen movies are more than they seem. Movies are a source of inspiration hidden behind cute characters and simple plot lines. While you’re visiting Planet Pen, the movie Wall-E happens to be an inhabitant. It is here on this planet that Wall-E can be uncovered and understood.
As your guide to Wall-E on Planet Pen, this article will showcase the main elements starting from its cute, main characters, a simple but complex villain, and the meaning of it all. Let’s break down this wall-e!
Cute Characters
A love story
The first stop on our journey are the cute, main characters of Wall-E and Eve (or Evvaaa as more commonly pronounced).
These main characters are what make the story, they serve as a device to move forward the film. However, most main characters in movies serve as this device. Wall-E and Eve are cute, but alas, that is not up for interpretation in this article as well. Here on Planet Pen, we’re not uncovering whether characters move a movie forward or if they’re cute, we uncover what characters represent.
Wall-E and Eve represent ideals. Simple ideals that are found in the world today, therefore this makes the cute main characters more important than just moving a movie forward or being cute! Don’t you agree?
The movie begins with Wall-E. From the beginning, the viewer is brought into this robots world. We understand the character from how it is able to find joy in day to day operations. Wall-E seemingly copes with its existence alone, reporting to no entity, by fulfilling its original goal and in the process collection miscellaneous valuables. In fact, Wall-E’s domicile is littered with valuables collected from a long existence, which include a prized film, a family of lighters, and a lonely spork. Well, what does this represent?
You see, Wall-E represents much more than his intended role. As evident by the collection of random valuables, Wall-E seeks to preserve beauty. Wall-E cherishes what it is given and as the movie progresses fights to keep one valuable safe. From that point, Wall-E is the representation of those advocating for a host of issues like sustainability, zero waste, and natural land preservation. Wall-E is a social justice warrior.
Considering this representation Wall-E can be seen as a metaphor for its own job. Wall-E takes what he sees, trash, and compacts into less of an issue, a cube. Similar to many social justice warriors, Wall-E takes what is given and creates a better alternative. When the youth of the generation today are faced with mounting evidence of climate change and unhealthy consumption habits they come together with that and fight to produce a brighter future. Wall-E and social justice warriors fight the same battle.
After understanding the life that Wall-E lives, we are introduced into the life that Eve lives. Upon arrival on Earth, we see that Eve lives a life in which it acts in the boundaries of duty to the ship. Eve goes forth to fulfill a mission of navigating the Earth to find a sample of photosynthesis. However, this life in which we are introduced to Eve changes in a matter of seconds.
Eve goes from acting orderly, with the ship present, to adventurous, with the ship lifting off back into space. When on Axiom, and as symbolized by humanity being confined to lines in which they travel, the ships travelers and robots are subject to conformity. By this action of Eve to fly around once the ship leaves it represents the ability to make decisions in line with what the robot believes. With that, Eve represents a new ideal. Eve represents freedom.
The ideal of freedom is shown by two ship travelers as well. Mary and John, not really creative for the year 2110, where’s the XAE-12’s, maybe these names mean something more?, are knocked out of their chairs, this sets forth events in which they explore the ship and see a world they didn't know existed. By simply changing the boundaries of the daily lives in which Mary and John live are they able to experience life in a different manner.
With that freedom a range of opportunities is unlocked. In this range of opportunities the ability for Eve and Wall-E to meet was created; setting forth a beautiful love story.
A love story
The unison of these two representations creates a love story. On one hand, there is Wall-E who represents what is essentially a dirty, damaged fighter and on the other is Eve who represents what is essentially a pure, guiding light of hope.
The two differences can be showcased in the flying scene as pictured above, Wall-E uses the tools on hand to navigate its way around space while Eve uses the natural ability provided to do the same. Each character uses their respective representation to accomplish the task.
This love story shows that despite differences, those that are passionate about similar values can come together; whether they are advocating for change or fighting for freedom. As they come together, they become a force for change. The advocator and the one that is adventurous bring about change to the lives of humanity.
Exemplified by this, the representation of how others can be influenced from unison and the following love story, Mary and John found their inspiration from Wall-E and Eve flying around.
Wait just a minute, Wall-E isn’t just a film about some cute characters and a love story.
No, there is a villain crucial for understanding the film. In the next section, we take a look at the character Auto and what it means for the overall story.
Simple Villan
Brainwashing
With Wall-E representing those who advocate for something brighter, what do the Captain and his autopilot represent? Although dynamic and important to the movie, the Captain himself doesn’t provide a great picture into the meaning of the film. The autopilot, Auto, does.
Auto is introduced in the film as the ships navigation. Literally, Auto, as plainly as can be is a ship wheel. Like many other robots of the ship, Auto is a robot that acts in a manner that is conforming to the protocol given. More than the other robots, Auto acts in a manner in which it is stricly adhering to the systems in which it was placed in. When an order is given to Auto, despite being able to travel in a 360 degree motion, it is locked in. Auto therefore is the anthesis of Eve.
As proof of this, and to no fault of Auto’s own, there was a protocol established in which Axiom was not intended to return to Earth. Therefore Auto must act in accordance with this protocol and make decisions that fit this. Despite potentially wanting to change, Auto is hardwired into a lifestyle where it is normal to make the decisions it is making. Those decisions however represent control, a fact in which limits the advancement of humanity by confining the passengers in an endless cycle.
It is from this classification that Auto represents the forces in which advocates are fighting against today. Despite not wanting to name names, this can be a host of forces like: oil companies, corrupt politicians, among many more… there is a long list of forces in which hurt the planet Earth for gain (sadly).
The forces listed above are on autopilot themselves by using outdated devices that were established for them. It is a protocol. It is what they know. In relation to Auto and the forces the robot represents, what happens when that doesn’t change or there isn’t a force to bring about change? Brainwashing?
Brainwashing
The power provided to Auto provides a glimpse into the dangers in which the power granted to those that Auto represents poses. When given that power, it can turn into a form of brainwashing. Sticking to only one system of protocol doesn't bring anything new. This one system limits the advancement of humanity by funneling ideas into one path with no exercise of exiting.
An example of this comes from the moment in the film in which the Captain is learning about Earth for the very first time. Despite possessing a title of controlling a ship, the captain himself is unaware of the planet humanity began on. As this film portrays, when a lifestyle focuses on a rigid system of order with potentially outdated systems and a heightened state of consumption then people may lose sight of potential value.
Game over, right?
Meaning of it All
A second love story
Meaning of it All
SPOILER ALERT, Wall-E doesn’t end with Auto succeeding in the task of not returning to Earth from protocol. Wall-E ends with humanity returning to Earth. What made this possible? The short answer, love.
A second love story
There are actually two love stories in Wall-E. One love story exists between Wall-E and Eve and a second love story exists between Wall-E and the plant (or photosynthesis example as referred to before).
This love starts at first sight, which can be seen in the picture above. Wall-E finds the plant in a refrigerator with the most treasured expression on the robots mechanical eyes. It is the same expression, but in fact heightened, as when first meeting Eve. Wall-E with his new found love then proceeds to safe guard the plant inside a boot. Throughout the film Wall-E shows its love for the plant by overlooking its safety.
A few examples of this come from when Wall-E goes inside the escape pod of the Axiom which was to be self-destructed (computers have programs so Wall-E knew the risks) and choosing the plant over Eve’s love in the garbage disposal. In the disposal moment is when the two love stories actually come into contact, Wall-E is put in a position where it must choose which to love more as the robot is on the brink of turning off (death) so Eve reaches out to show love. Despite in the story how Wall-E reaches out to show Eve love, Wall-E chose the plant.
This love story is the reason it means more
When you tie together what Wall-E represents and what Auto represents then you understand how this movie represents in itself a message for the ones who are advocating.
What does Wall-E mean?
It is a message that despite the actions of the autopilot and what it represents, which may be understandable at moments, is something that can be overcome by persistence in the face of adversary for what you love.
This idea is highlighted by the sacrifice that Wall-E makes by placing itself in the way of the plant verification device that is closing from Auto. This is the action in which brings home the travelers on Axiom. Not only with this does Wall-E represent what persistence can bring, but it represents what the actions of the one can be for all. With Wall-E’s action he was able to inspire the Captain to take control of the ship from Auto. With the robot’s action, he was able to inspire the ships travelers and robots to pass along the boot with the plant to the device before closing.
Let Wall-E be a call to action then! To those that are working in environments that they don’t support what is being produced, to those that are fighting for what they love, and to those who are floating in a space where they may not fit in with their system, keep advocating for what you believe in. Like the story of Wall-E, the Captain and his autopilot, and the rest of the warriors in the film, they persevered.
How did Wall-E end? It ends with humanity returning to Earth, a new world created. With a difficult look into the past as a reminder of what was and a fresh mindset being established for the future, humanity and the robots of the film go onto create a harmonious world. It’s a future many are advocating for today, a future in which we can all strive for.
And that concludes your time here on Planet Pen. Venturing to see what hides beneath the imagery of Wall-E, we hope you enjoyed reading!
