In the 2002 hit film Equilibrium John Preston, (Christian Bale), works for the capital of Libria as an enforcer of the law. In the movie
a new society has been created after a third world war. This society is based
on desensitization in which man is reduced to a senseless animal with animal
behaviors. In other words, the government of Libria stands against the
empiricist view of learning through the senses. In fact, sensing is against the
law for which Preston stands; to sense is to be found guilty of becoming a
sense offender, a crime punishable by execution. If an individual rebels from
the dominating values of the government by feeling any sort emotion, they will
be put to death.
Based
on the authority of the government, there is nothing special about man; he is
reduced to a senseless animal only valuable for accomplishing what authorities
consider the “perfect society”. The commanders and their members do not
question the structure of the society in which they live. However, they eat,
sleep, and breathe for the benefit of the perfect society. Any variance or
outside thinking of an individual results in being categorized as a rebel; therefore,
there is no tolerance for divergence because the system is closed. No themes of
God or religion are addressed in depth through out the movie, but it does show
some art that is based on historical religion. Perhaps the reason for the
destruction of art was to protect society from religious influences that can
motivate groups to extreme measures.
Equilibrium is based on two different
types of philosophy: ethics and aesthetics. In the beginning of the movie, the
original painting of Mona Lisa is found; however, since art is considered an
expression of the senses the painting was immediately destroyed. Within the
movie there are many subtle similarities with Romanticism. The rebels in Libria
believe sensing is one of the most important things. They use the senses to
strengthen their belief that aesthetics are important to the survival of the
“real” humanity that thrived before the war. Yet, themes in the movie stress
the elimination of any type of aesthetic. This is one of the major
philosophical themes. Nevertheless, the biggest theme portrayed in the movie is
the theme of ethics. Proper behavior seems to be the most important piece for
the protection of society. Every law is set in place in order to keep people
in-line with the standard quo. The authorities also believe in the suppression
of empiricists since they believe in the free will to make inferences based on
the senses. Though a few references to
politics are brought up throughout the film, (e.g. “we have eliminated war and
created a peaceful society”), the overarching theme in the movie is based in
ethics.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Due
to the violent nature of the film, I am led to believe there is very little
regard for the value of human life. The Clerics have become so expressionless
they are desensitized to killing, especially the killing of the rebels. Nonetheless,
there is a balance between predestination and free will. Based on the drug, the
authorities require every law-abiding citizen to use on a daily-basis, the
behavior of the civilization is predestined to be senseless. After taking the
proper dosage of the drug, an individual has no choice but to conform to the
way in which society is supposed to act. Nevertheless, there are several
instances in the film when, after taking the drug, Preston questions the system
and begins thinking about what it is like to feel. These thoughts are brought
on by his memories of his wife’s death. The turning point in the movie
ultimately occurs when Preston re-watches his wife’s sentencing and execution.
At this moment, he realizes the presence of evil that accompanies the effects
of societies drug. Considering the film is based on the goal of eliminating the
rebels, there also has to be some element of free will. One can always choose
to not take the drug. This is what Preston does by mistake midway through the
film and this ultimately starts the conversion of his reality. In other words,
to take the drug is choosing, (based on coercion), the predestination of your
actions for the well-being of society, while ignoring the drug is the free will
to break the law based on a different code of ethics.
The
ethics in the film eliminate any relativism while promoting moral absolutes
that demand society’s senselessness. Essentially, the whole movie is based on
the laws of the authorities, which are imposed on everyone. However, the plot
comes together based on the difference’s between people’s agreement or refusal
of the code of living. The laws are absolute’s conceptualized to create the
“perfect society”. Consequently, it is
the prevalence of a dominant, yet controversial, philosophical
constitutionality that guides the themes, decisions, and outcomes of this film.
