(no subject)

[catslash]

I promised ayrdaomei some discussion of Norrington's character arc after my second viewing of Dead Man's Chest, so here.

Okay. In order to do this properly I am goig to have to indulge in a bit of fanwankery, since Norrington's opening tirade left a damn lot of backstory out. My guesses run something like this:

After Norrington turned his back and allowed Jack's escape, his higher ups cannot have been that pleased. However, by way of explaining why it seems to have taken so long for a warrant to be issued for his arrest ("He resigned his commission months ago," according to Governor Swann) I think they took into account his long history of loyal service and honorable upholding of the law, and offered him a deal: Find Jack, bring him back to face his punishment, and all will be forgiven. (Perhaps they also included pardons for Elizabeth and maybe Will in this deal - I would imagine he would at least attempt to negotiate for Elizabeth's life, and Will's as well for her sake. Depending on how badly they wanted Jack found, Elizabeth's life would be far more effective leverage with Norrington than his own.) They probably reminded him, with a graphic list of crimes, that Jack is a pirate. Basic decency or no, his actions have caused both directly and indirectly the deaths of many. This would appeal to Norrington's sense of justice and responsibility, and make it well worth Jack's life to save his own, and presumably Elizabeth's and Will's.

And Norrington would, of course, put everything he had into pursuing Jack with those lives hanging in the balance. It seems as though he put too much - when we meet him in DMC, it is established that he killed his crew and wrecked his ship attempting to sail through a hurricane to find Jack. I'll admit I have a hard time with this one, but it would seem that Norrington is a bit more given to being governed by his emotions and instincts than he would like to believe, and he does think quickly on his feet and it has all served him so well in the past. I can accept that it all led to his making a very bad decision under pressure. (Aw man, that would also explain why Gillette wasn't in this one. But, but, I like Gillette! Damn.)

And, while three lives are worth one, they are not worth an entire crew. I imagine that, in grief and horror over what he had done, he hastily resigned his post and disappeared so he might at least save himself. This still left Elizabeth and Will in danger, but look what he'd done already, trying to save them. Perhaps he decided that they and everyone else in Port Royal were safer without him around. Or perhaps, in his agony, he wasn't even thinking that clearly.

Obviously, after all this, he spiralled downward, probably very quickly. The man we meet in DMC is very bitter and angry and defeated. I think his grief took the steel and resolve in his character and twisted it, and he came to blame two people: Jack and himself. In the movie, he mainly accuses Jack, but I don't see why he'd be likely to air his self-condemnation. I think he came to look back on that day in the fort, the day he made the decision to turn his back and save a life, the day he did the honorable and morally right thing, as the day that destroyed his life. He blames his own sense of honor, and he blames Jack for somehow manipulating him into using it (Jack is very charismatic; he seems to turn just about everyone into his own groupies. He did it to Norrington too).

As I said to ayrdaomei last night, I think he abandoned that honor long ago. Being honorable ruined his life. Why should he embrace it? I think that principle, or lack thereof, explains all his actions in the movie. Without honor weighing him down, he has the free opportunity to restore what he once had, and he grabs it regardless of the cost to others. He has, in essence, become that which he once hunted: pirate.

I also think that he is a good man still. I don't believe he'll stay like this. Doing the right thing is part of him. I expect a return to form in the third movie - perhaps using his station within the East India Trading Company to help the quest to save Jack, or to help exonerate him, Elizabeth, and Will? Once tested again, he'll come through. He'll redeem himself.

And there you have it. Any thoughts?

Comments

[ayrdaomei.livejournal.com]

I like your guesses a lot, and they make a ton of sense to me. I think you're right and Norrington going after Jack through hell and high water was not just for himself, but he must have done it with Elizabeth's life in the balance as well. That he should risk his men and his ship and end up here is something I can accept, now.

I had a hard time figuring out how long after the first movie this was supposed to be. Six months? A year? Was it any clearer to you the second time around?

(Aw man, that would also explain why Gillette wasn't in this one. But, but, I like Gillette! Damn.)

:O Nooo. lol, I liked Gillette, too. Him and his admiring little smirk.

Once tested again, he'll come through. He'll redeem himself.

I sincerely hope you're right! I was relieved to see that Jack Davenport is onboard for the third film; if they weren't going to do anything further with the character, why even bring him back for the third film, right? **crosses fingers**

[catslash.livejournal.com]

I think on the timeline that it was about a year. Jack mentions in talk with Davy Jones that he had the Black Pearl for two years before the mutiny, and the curse lasted for a decade, I think. And since Jack's deal with Jones was for thirteen years, that gives us an extra year to play with, so that must be the time that passed between movies.

Norrington all along has been more important than the "guy in love with male lead's love interest" archetype generally is - they usually make that guy a one-note villain, not a sympathetic character. I think he'll continue to play a key role, and with the way they've handled the character thus far, I think that will involve his getting back on track. They keep surprising us with Norrington.

[gileonnen.livejournal.com]

Totally agree with you on everything here; I only wish I had something this insightful to contribute. =)