The 2015 movieIn the Heart of the Sea, starring Tom Holland and Chris Hemsworth, is now streaming on Netflix, leading many to wonder why several changes were made tothe true story behindIn the Heart of the Sea.In the Heart of the Seawas directed by Ron Howard and released on December 11th, 2015. The movie is based on the incredible true story of the sailors who survived the sinking of the whaling ship the Essex in 1821, which left multiple men lost at sea for more than 90 days (only 5 of whom survived).
This real-life event was the inspiration for Herman Melville’s classic novelMoby-Dick, andIn The Heart of the Seahas a direct tie to that story as well. In the movie, Ben Whishaw plays Herman Melville, who interviews the older version of Thomas Nickerson (the younger version, who was lost at sea and survived, is played by Tom Holland in the movie). However, this is one of many changesIn The Heart of the Seamade to the true story, as Thomas Nickerson wasn’t the survivor Herman Melville interviewed at all.
Herman Melville Never Met Thomas Nickerson In Real Life
In The Movie, It Is Nickerson Who Explains What The Sailors Experienced
In the Heart of the Seadepicts writer Herman Melville meeting with Essex survivor Thomas Nickerson (Brendan Gleeson) when he is older and paying him to detail his account of the sinking of the ship and the sailors' survival at sea. In the movie, Nickerson is an innkeeper, and it’s clear that his life has taken a dark turn over the years, no doubt due in large part to the horrors he experienced. Perhaps because of that trauma as well,In the Heart of the Seashows Nickerson being rather hesitant to speak with Melville, although he ultimately agrees.
However, this interaction is one of several inaccuracies withinIn the Heart of the Sea. Although Melville did meet with people who were affected by this event when working onMoby-Dick,Melville never met or spoke to Nickerson in real life. It is accurate that Thomas Nickerson was a survivor of the sinking of the Essex and was only a 14-year-old cabin boy at the time, but these conversations and the link between Melville and Nickerson in general were fabricated in the movie.
What Really Happened To The Men Who Stayed On The Island After In The Heart Of The Sea
In the Heart of the Sea is an adaptation of a book about the sinking of a whaling ship. Some of the survivors were rescued from Henderson Island.
The Real Herman Melville Met With George Pollard Jr & Owen Chase’s Son About The Essex
Owen Chase’s Written Account Of The Event Was Melville’s True Inspiration
Among the real-lifedetails missing inIn the Heart of the Seaare the actual sources of Herman Melville’s information he used forMoby-Dick. Although Melville didn’t meet with Nickerson, he did meet with George Pollard Jr., the captain of the Essex (and, unfortunately, also the captain of the Two Brothers, yet another Nantucket whaler ship that sank). He also used the firsthand account of real-lifeIn the Heart of the Seasailor Owen Chaseand met with Chase’s son to discuss what he knew of the event.
Although Melville didn’t meet with Nickerson, he did meet with George Pollard Jr., the captain of the Essex.
It was Owen Chase’s written account of the sinking of the Essex that truly inspired Melville to writeMoby-Dick. Chase’s narrative of the event was written and published very soon after his return, with the help of a ghostwriter. Although Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) is a major character inIn the Heart of the Sea, his narrative was not as prominent as Nickerson’s in this version of the story—even though Nickerson’s written account didn’t come until much later.
Why Melville Interviewing An Older Thomas Nickerson Was More Poignant For In The Heart Of The Sea’s Story
The Audience’s Connection To In The Heart Of The Sea’s Characters May Explain This Change
Although it might seem surprising thatIn the Heart of the Seamade these changes to the source material and Herman Melville’s interactions with the sailors and their family members, these decisions make sense in light ofIn the Heart of the Sea’scast of characters.In the Heart of the Seacould have remained accurate and shown Herman Melville meeting with George Pollard Jr. and Owen Chase’s son. However,having Melville meet with Nickerson in the movie had a much greater emotional impact.
This would be an emotional and profound story no matter who was telling it, but the performances delivered by the movie’s various actors, Holland and Hemsworth chief among them, made the weight of this situation feel so much more real. Nickerson was therefore a key character forIn the Heart of the Seato choose for this interaction with Melville. In addition to Tom Holland’s performance being brilliant, witnessing this young boy suffer and be subjected to so many horrors in the movie was one of the most affecting aspects of the story.
Witnessing this young boy suffer and be subjected to so many horrors in the movie was one of the most affecting aspects of the story.
Choosing a grown Nickerson to be the one to tell this story was the right choice for audiences. Even though it was clear that this experience had long-lasting, terrible effects on Nickerson, getting to hear the story from his perspective and see what his life was like in the future offered some form of closure for viewers. Moreover, viewers had been endeared to young Nickerson throughout the movie, especially given the hope he miraculously maintained even in the gravest moments, so this choice made a great deal of sense, despite it not being accurate.
Thomas Nickerson Didn’t Write His Account Of The Essex Sinking Until 25 Years After Moby-Dick Was Published
Nickerson’s Account Came About Much Later Than Is Shown In The Movie
As mentioned,Thomas Nickerson did have his own written account of the sinking of the Essex, but it was not the account Melville drew inspiration from, as it didn’t even exist at the time Melville was writingMoby-Dick. In fact, Nickerson’s account was written a full 25 years afterMoby-Dickhad been published.Moby-Dickwas first published on October 18th, 1851. In 1876, Nickerson wrote his own 80-page manuscript about the experience, but it was lost for years. Finally, after an authentication process and various other steps, Nickerson’s account was published in 1984.
Nickerson’s account was published in 1984.
Interestingly,there is a direct link between Nickerson’s account of the Essex sinking and the movieIn the Heart of the Sea, even though the movie’s depiction of Melville and Nickerson speaking with one another is fabricated. It was Nickerson’s writing that inspired the bookIn the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essexbywriter Nathaniel Philbrick. This book in turn inspired the movieIn the Heart of the Sea.
While Thomas Nickerson never met Herman Melville,In the Heart of the Seanevertheless did capture the impact the sinking of the Essex had on Melville’s famous novelMoby-Dick. It also reflected the significant influence Nickerson’s account of the incident ultimately had in real life. These choices inIn the Heart of the Seamay not have been the most accurate, but they did make sense in the bigger picture of this incredible true story.
In the Heart of the Sea
Cast
Based on the real-life event that inspired Moby Dick, In the Heart of the Sea is directed by Ron Howard and stars Chris Hemsworth as Owen Chase, first mate of the whaling ship Essex who must fight for his life in the middle of the ocean when a whale destroys his ship, killing most of his crew and stranding him and a few survivors on a lifeboat. Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson also star.
