Point Dume |
In the 1968 film “Planet of the Apes,” Taylor (played by Charlton
Heston) binds Dr. Zaius to a tree trunk that has washed ashore. He tells Dr. Zaius that he intends to learn
what happened to the humans who once ruled the planet. The orangutan scientist, Chief Scientist and Defender
of the Faith, warns Taylor, “If you do, you may wish you had not sought the
truth.”
(Spoiler Alert: I am about to reveal the surprise ending of
this forty-four year-old film. So if you
have not seen it, you have been warned!)
Taylor pulls Nova onto his horse, and the two
ride off along the beach. It is at Point
Dume that the full impact of Dr. Zaius’ prophesy hits him. He has traveled for two thousand years before
his ship crashed on this planet. He had
believed that he was on another world, far away from Earth. But when he sees the Statue of Liberty
half-buried in the sand, he knows exactly where he is, and that his worst fears
about humanity have proven true.
"Uh, guys, wait up!" |
As they marched through the arid desert at the beginning of
the film, Taylor told his fellow astronaut Landon that he accepted this mission
because he hoped that, somewhere out there, there was “something better than
man.” Taylor was fed up by the mixture
of selfishness, greed, politics, and violence that prevents man from making the
Earth into a utopia. So he travels into
space, leaving everything behind, in the hope of finding a place where people
truly care more about others than they do about themselves. Sadly, his greatest fear—that man would
destroy himself—has proven true.
"If you need some help, let me know!" |
Is Taylor right to be so cynical? Is Dr. Zaius right to condemn all of humanity
for its record of violence against itself?
At times, I side with them, choosing to believe that even those who
perform good deeds do so for selfish reasons.
I hold up the injuries others have caused me as proof of man’s inherent
callousness. But then I have to ask
myself: what am I doing to make the lives of those around me better? How much of my time, energy, and
caring can I afford to give others, without slowing or halting my progress
along my desired path?
Proof of Apocalyse, or Utopia? |
Taylor and Dr. Zaius would point to all the mansions atop
the cliffs as proof of man’s callousness, of how he allows his fellow humans to
starve and suffer while he lives in luxury.
I watch the scuba divers venturing into the ocean, the people rock-climbing,
the children and parents playing together.
Like Taylor, I pause with my life-companion before Point Dume. I acknowledge the validity of his beliefs,
and recognize that his worst fears may yet come true. But perhaps he and Dr. Zaius may eventually
be proved wrong. Perhaps, working
together, we can all make this world into a utopia.
I’d like to be a part of that.
Dragon Dave
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