The Master - Analysis

The Master - Analysis
(WARNING - CONTAINS SPOILERS)

The Master is one of those films, where you don't know what quite is going on, it's a mystery. And knowing Paul Thomas Anderson, I think he has made a truly under appreciated masterpiece, by not showing  what the message to the film is, but rather leaving it up to the audience to figure it out. Some say it is about Scientology, and yes it is based around a Scientology cult known as the 'The Cause', some say it is about the downfall of Post-World War II sailors and them trying to fit into society. I believe it is about Freddie Quaill's journey to becoming a better man and becoming more mature and responsible. He shows exactly the type of conditions sailors went through after the war : Stress, loneliness, sexual desires and the ability to be able to follow orders, as Freddie followed orders from Lancaster Dodd (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) known as Master.

 In the first part of the film, we see Freddie as a photographer just after the war had ended. He seems to show some kind of stress and social problems as he ends up being chased around the shop by a customer, who he tried to strangle with his tie, because he complained about the light being too hot on his face. Very similar to another job he had as a labourer on a farm, where he was famous for brewing his own 'moonshine', he was accused of poisoning a man after he gave him a some of it. We don't know whether he did this on purpose or not, but he did say that the man looked like his father, which later on he tells Master that he despised his father, because he was a drunk.

 When Freddie starts to get involved with 'The Cause', he follows Master's every footstep like a dog. He defends his beliefs, even know he doesn't even understand what the cult is about, he is following him because he is unsure what to do with his life. Master's son, Val, clearly has no interest in his father's work, but tries to go along with it as best as he can. But, when Val tells Freddie that his father is making the system up as he goes along, he starts to think if he is right. His mind is so boggled up, he will believe anything anyone says.

The last shot may very well confirm the interpretation of the film. Throughout the film we see Freddie expressing his sexual desires : writing sexual notes to random girls, humping a woman made out of sand, masturbating into the sea, imagining people naked... All of these are just showing his young, foolish personality, but once he has left The Cause, he goes to see Doris, the girl he loved before the war, but finds out she's moved on. Which is basically a sign saying for him to move on too. After, Master invites Freddie to England, he starts to sing a song to Freddie, 'Slow Boat to China', which I believe is Master's way of telling Freddie he wants to do all he can to help him, because he is very close to him and almost sees him as a son. Freddie ultimately rejects Master's offer to stay with him in England, but decides to go out into the world by himself, as he feels he is cured. So, on the final shot, we see Freddie laying beside the woman he made out of sand, as if he was in love with her and that shows he has changed.

 

I know that this film is definitely one, where it needs multiple viewings to be able to fully comprehend everything that goes on. It's pretty much the same with nay other PTA film, the first time you see it, it's good, but the each time you watch it after, it seems to get better and that's unlikely with most good movies. I have no doubt in saying that when Anderson releases his film adaption of  'Inherent Vice', it will be incredible.

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