This isn't actually all about the aforementioned Commodore-turned-pirate. Sort of an essay about my insecurities in life, etc. I guess a better title would be "Nice?". I don't know. It's late and I'm in a philosophical mood. So there.

Be Warned: Spoilers!

You all know how obsessed I am with history, the Golden Age of Sail, and, most importantly, the British Royal Navy (Thank you, CS Forester!). I guess that's why I liked Norrington in the first place - he stood for my interest in history. And then when I became obsessed with the movie (thank you, Nancy!) I looked into most of the DVD - including the deleted scenes. Even I thought Norrington was a bit of a jerk in some parts of the movie, but, if you think about it, is made sympatheic because of his (unrequited) love of Elizabeth, and her basically using him to achieve her own ends - for example, manipulating him by promising to marry him if he goes after Will, conveniently forgetting to mention that in doing so the Dauntless will run up against undead pirates who DECIMATE the crew. Death to the extras? Better some poor innocent honest sailors should die than scrubby, cheating pirates. (Hollywood ... ) And then, after he holds up his end of the arrangement, she decides she won't hold up hers. Norrington has the grace to decide that no matter how much he loves her, she loves Will, and will therefor be happier with Will - and she, with his blessing, goes with Will. Not to mention the slightly arrogant "one day's head start". If this doesn't convince you he's a good man, watch some of the deleted scenes - "Accepting the Proposal" and "Happy Endings".

In essence, Norrington as he is written in the first is an upstanding, honorable man, who may be overly proper, occasionally arrogant, but is essentially selfless and willing to put others before himself. Example - "By remembering I serve others, Mr. Sparrow, not only myself." That's why, in case any one is wondering why I don't go for Will Turner or Jack Sparrow - it's not just because of the uniform. I find him the most sympathetic character in the series. Because he seems like he's above it all and he's not. He's human. And he's got a pretty uniform ... that's beside the point.

All right, onto Pirate!Norrington. I don't know whether to love him or hate him in Dead Man's Chest, honestly. I swear the loss of the pretty uniform and big ship doesn't have anything to do with it! Norrington, who has, since his generous actions at the end of the 1st flick, lost everything. Lost Elizabeth, his officers and men, the Dauntless, and finally, his comission. When you first see him , he's wearing what's left of his uniform - it should have been a shock, but, for me, it was just sort of tragic, finding out that he's fallen from Commodore in the Royal Navy to a "Rumpot deckhand what takes orders from pirates." Complete tragic hero now - why am I such a sucker for the tragic hero? I'm a Jane Austen fan, for chrissakes! I don't do the tragic hero! That's the Byronic hero and ... yeah. Much better to end up with a safe, stable, loving man (eg, Darcy) than brooding, unstable but passionate man(Charlotte Bronte's Rochester). So by that logic I should like Commodore Norrington better than Pirate Norrington. Okay ... back on track.

The treatment of Norrington's character in Dead Man's Chest keeps me from loving the movie. He's played as the villain, to some extent, where I think, where he only appears villainous because of his fall. Compared to the serious backstabbing other characters get up to in this movie, Norrington shouldn't be all that bad. He just want's his life back and, preferably, not to be hung (Remember the warrant?). The man is finally acting selfish after learning the hard way that nice guys finish last.

Which brings be out of my Norrington essay and into the philosophy of this. I've always associated with Norrington, mostly because I'm just not Jack Sparrow, I'm  not a romantic idealist (anymore) like Will Turner, I'm not a manipulative spoiled brat (hopefully) like Elizabeth, and I, I pray, I am not the bad guy. So I associate with the British naval officer who probably is over-proper at times, can be etraordinarily arrogant and at the same time have no confidence in themselves, and sees things black and white. Understandable? I'm not saying I'm a good person like Norrington is, because, quite simply, I'm not. But now Norrington's changed for the worse - desperate, drunk, a wreck of what he once was. I don't like seeing him like that because, viewing him as a better person than me, I'm afraid I will fall like that someday.

It's the Reaver complex from Serenity, you know? The thing that makes the Reavers so scary is that they were human once. It makes you doubt humanity, seeing our lowest. If people are innately good, how do we turn so bad? The fact is we want to believe that people are good, because we can't face the idea that we are naturally bad. So, what are we? Are we what we percieve ourselves to be? Are we what other's percieve us to be? Is who we are dependant on nature or nurture, from the heart and soul or the blackboard?

A spin on the saying passed around the gang, that we are happily insane - "Better mad with the rest of the world than sane alone." From a deleted scene in Dead Man's Chest, that's up in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_-t-ujmyco. It's only a line in the middle, and no backstory given - unless, of course, you're like me and have read too much about the second movie. The backstory to the line is Elizabeth is telling Norrington about the history of Isla Cruces - that the natives of the island were all struck down by a terrible disease and the priest had to bury them all, one by one (explaining the massive graveyard). After the last one died the priest was driven out of his sanity by the tragedy and hung himself in the belfry. To which Norrington responds. I cannot forgive them for cutting that line, or the extended end sequence between Beckett (I HATE THAT MAN) and Norrington when Beckett gives him back his sword and then tells him Elizabeth is dead. Will not forgive editors for cutting that.

Dang, I need to see this movie again!

By the way, filing from 7:30 to 4:00 five days a week blows. At least it pays and the people are nice. Three weeks until that paycheck, though. *smoulder*