Was In The Heart Of The Sea A True Story
“In the Heart of the Sea” is a movie based on a true story that occurred in 1820. The movie is based on the book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick, which tells the story of the Essex, a whaling ship that was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean. The movie, directed by Ron Howard and starring Chris Hemsworth, tells a story of survival, courage, and the human spirit, but is it really a true story?
The Real Story Behind In The Heart Of The Sea
The story of the Essex is indeed a true one. In 1819, the Essex set sail from Nantucket, Massachusetts, on a whaling expedition that would take the crew around the world. The ship was captained by George Pollard Jr., a young and inexperienced captain who was given command of the ship due to his family connections.
After months at sea, the Essex found itself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where it was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale. The crew was left stranded in the middle of the ocean, with little food and water and only three small whaleboats to escape in.
The crew was forced to resort to cannibalism in order to survive, with some members of the crew resorting to eating their own shipmates. The crew was eventually rescued after more than 90 days at sea, with only a handful of survivors.
The Accuracy Of The Movie
The movie “In the Heart of the Sea” is based on the true story of the Essex, but like many Hollywood movies, it takes some liberties with the facts. While the overall story of the Essex is accurate, some of the details have been changed or embellished for the sake of the movie.
For example, in the movie, Captain Pollard is portrayed as being much older than he was in real life. In addition, the movie depicts the crew of the Essex as being more antagonistic towards each other than they were in real life.
Despite these changes, the movie does a good job of capturing the spirit of the story and the challenges that the crew of the Essex faced. The movie is a powerful and emotional tribute to the men who survived the sinking of the Essex and the incredible ordeal they endured.
The Legacy Of The Essex
The story of the Essex had a profound impact on the whaling industry and the world at large. The sinking of the Essex was one of the inspirations for Herman Melville’s famous novel “Moby-Dick,” which tells the story of a vengeful captain pursuing a giant white whale.
The sinking of the Essex also had a lasting impact on the whaling industry. The demand for whale oil, which was used for lighting and lubrication, began to decline after the sinking of the Essex and other similar incidents. This led to the eventual collapse of the whaling industry, which had been a major part of the American economy for many years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “In the Heart of the Sea” is a movie based on a true story that occurred in 1820. While the movie takes some liberties with the facts, it does a good job of capturing the spirit of the story and the challenges that the crew of the Essex faced. The legacy of the Essex can still be felt today, both in the impact it had on the whaling industry and in the enduring popularity of the story.