Format: Movie
Released: 1997
Screenplay By: James Cameron
Directed By: James Cameron
Run Time: 187 Minutes
Character: Rose Dawson nee DeWitt Bukater
Plot summary of the 1997 film Titanic continues below…
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Titanic: Story Structure Analysis
DRAMATIC PHASE ONE: THE SETUP
All of the main characters are introduced. The story world and its mechanics are established. Foundations are laid for the main throughline, subplots and central conflict.
ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION
A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal. But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role.
Rose DeWitt Bukater, who is betrothed to a man she despises (the imperfect situation) at his and her mother’s insistence (oppressive opposition), struggles to come to terms with the arranged marriage (the initial goal). But when Cal and her mother continually insist on controlling her life, Rose runs to the back of the ship to commit suicide (the disturbance), meets the roguish Jack while contemplating her decision (the dilemma), and decides to befriend him instead of killing herself (the new role).
The Imperfect Situation: Rose is being forced into marriage with a man she dislikes. She is bored with her life and fed up with the stuffy rules governing her existence. If only she had been born poor.
Initial Goal: Rose is being forced to marry Cal against her will. She doesn’t want to but sees no way out of it.
Oppressive Opposition: Cal is a douchebag to Rose every chance he gets.
He criticizes her taste in art. He orders her food for her and snatches cigarettes out of her mouth. I’m pretty sure if he had a mustache he’d twirl it. Meanwhile, her mother refuses to listen to any of Rose’s objections to marrying Cal, insisting he is a “good match” because he’s rich.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: Over dinner, Rose has a sudden realization how the rest of her life will play out. This prompts her to run to the back of the ship to commit suicide by jumping overboard.
Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 36 of 187 minutes (19.2%) – Jack shows up and attempts to convince Rose that jumping into the Atlantic Ocean is a horribly stupid idea. She must choose between her terrible life, and heeding the advice of this charming, dirt-poor stranger.
The New Role: If Rose takes Jack up on his offer, she will become friends with a hobo. Eww!
Act Run Time: 45 out of 187 minutes (24.1%)
ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION
The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal. But when he receives a Reality Check, he makes a Commitment to his New Role.
Act Start Time: 45 of 187 minutes (24.1%)
Rose learns about life on the other side from Jack (the unfamiliar situation) and is berated by her mother and Cal (incidental opposition) for trying to get to know him (the transitional goal). But when Cal reveals he had Lovejoy follow her, and her mother forbids her from seeing Jack again (the reality check), Jack sneaks back into first class and convinces Rose to be herself and have an affair with him (the commitment).
The Unfamiliar Situation: Jack enters Rose’s privileged but strict world, and Rose enters Jack’s poor but carefree world.
Transitional Goal: Rose begins to get to know Jack, however, they haven’t begun a relationship in earnest yet.
Incidental Opposition: Rose’s mother shows up while she and Jack are hanging out on the decks. Her mother’s disdain for Jack is palpable. Later, Jack goes to their fancy dinner party and, much to Cal’s dismay, charms everyone at the table (except Rose’s mother, of course). Afterward, Lovejoy follows Rose to Jack’s party and reports his findings to Cal.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check: The next day, Rose faces the reality of the world in which she lives. Over breakfast, Cal tells her he knows where, and with whom, she went the previous evening. He flips out and flips the table to demonstrate it visually. He demands that as his wife in training, she will honor him. Rose’s mother arrives shortly thereafter and reveals to the audience that Rose’s father has left their family penniless. They argue over her engagement Cal and who is the selfish one in their relationship.
Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 74 of 187 minutes (19.2%) – The same morning, Jack returns to first class to find Rose but is turned away by Mr. Lovejoy. Undeterred, Jack sneaks Rose into a room and confesses his feelings for her. Despite herself, she tells him to leave her alone. Over lunch, she remembers how boring her life will be when she sees a little girl being forced to be a lady by her mother. This prompts Rose to go find Jack on the bow of the ship. He gives her his patented “king of the world” treatment and Rose commits to her New Role by beginning a love affair with Jack. Her decision to be with Jack brings the new couple into the Central Conflict with Cal.
Act Run Time: 38 minutes of 187 minutes (20.3%)
DRAMATIC PHASE TWO: CONFRONTATION
The character is thrown in the middle of the Central Conflict and is placed at direct odds with the forces of antagonism. He undergoes a series of successes and failures as he works toward resolving the main throughline.
ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT
The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal. But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth.
Act Start Time: 83 of 187 minutes (44.4%)
Rose shuns and infuriates Cal (the central conflict) who sends Lovejoy after her (intentional opposition) for starting an all-out relationship with Jack (the false goal). But when the ship strikes an iceberg and Cal frames Jack for the theft of the heart of the ocean diamond (the turn), Rose realizes Jack is innocent and turns her back on Cal and her mother to rescue him (the moment of truth).
The Central Conflict: Rose and Jack square off with Cal, Lovejoy, and the sinking ship.
False Goal: Rose attempts to have a relationship with Jack.
Intentional Opposition: Cal orders Lovejoy to find Rose, and she and Jack narrowly evade his pursuit. Cal finds the drawing of Rose in his safe and comes up with the awesome idea to frame Jack for a crime.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: Rose and Jack get busy. The lookouts spot an iceberg. After much communication throughout the ship to turn, they hit it anyway. Cal tells a steward he has been robbed and to fetch the master of arms. Rose and Jack overhear what is going on with the iceberg and resolve to tell Cal and her mother. When they return Cal orders Jack searched, and they find the diamond Lovejoy planted on him. Jack pleads with Rose to believe him. She doesn’t. Mr. Andrews tells the captain the ship will sink in an hour or two at most.
Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 108 of 187 minutes (57.7%) – Back in their stateroom, Cal slaps Rose to demonstrate what their married life will be like. Meanwhile, Lovejoy leaves Jack to die in the slowly flooding detention area of the ship.
While they make their way to the lifeboats, Cal and Rose’s mother make saucy remarks about the state of the ship. Rose tells her mother to shut up and that half the people on the ship will die. Cal tells Rose Jack’s drawing will be worth more in the morning, prompting her to realize he set Jack up. Rose bids her mother a final goodbye. Cal tries to stop her but she spits in his face and flees. She now realizes the person she must be moving forward and makes the decision to fight against adversity for what she believes is right.
Act Run Time: 35 minutes of 187 minutes (18.7%)
ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN
The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal. But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve.
Act Start Time: 118 of 187 minutes (63.1%)
Rose attempts to escape the ship with Jack (the doomed plan), by navigating the bowels of the sinking ship (self-inflicted opposition) and rescuing him from the detention area (the Penultimate Goal). But when the lifeboats are only taking women and Jack convinces Rose to go by herself (the lowpoint), she has a change of heart and jumps onto the lower decks to stay with him (the newfound resolve).
The Doomed Plan: Rose goes to the detention area to save Jack, but there won’t be any lifeboats for them to escape aboard. Not to mention he dies at the end anyway. She only manages to add a few extra minutes to his life. Fail.
Penultimate Goal: Rose attempts to save Jack from the detention area in the bowels of the ship.
Self-Inflicted Opposition: Rose’s trip into the heart of the sinking ship is her own doing. She could have just gotten on the lifeboat and left. All the hardship she encounters on her way is a result of her own decisions.
Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: The crewmen start shooting. Jack convinces Rose to board a lifeboat. Cal tells her he has an arrangement with a boat on the other side of the ship he will share with Jack. Rose is sad but agrees. Once Rose is on the boat being lowered into the ocean, Cal reveals to Jack that while he does have an arrangement with a boat, Jack won’t benefit from it. In your face, Jack.
Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 138 of 187 minutes (73.7%) – Looking up at Jack, Rose decides she cannot leave him and jumps from the lifeboat onto one of the lower decks.
They run to each other and embrace. Rose reminds Jack that if he jumps, she jumps, mirroring their initial interaction at the Dilemma. She has decided nothing will come between her love for this guy she just met yesterday.
Act Run Time: 22 of 187 minutes (11.8%)
DRAMATIC PHASE THREE: RESOLUTION
The character engages in a final confrontation with the forces of antagonism to resolve the Central Conflict. The main throughline and all additional subplots are resolved. The new status quo is established.
ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT
The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal. But just when it seems All is Lost, he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.
Act Start Time: 140 of 187 minutes (74.9%)
Rose and Jack must stay aboard the sinking ship as long as possible, and evade the now murderous Cal (the longshot), to survive together (the ultimate goal). But when the decks erupt into pandemonium as the ship breaks in half and sinks (all is lost), Rose and Jack manage to find each other in the ocean and use a piece of wood to get Rose out of the water (the final push).
The Longshot: Rose and Jack evade Cal and go to the back of the ship in attempt to stay on board as long as possible to survive the sinking of the Titanic.
Ultimate Goal: Rose wants to survive the sinking ship with Jack.
Ultimate Opposition: Cal tries to shoot the lovebirds with Lovejoy’s pistol. I guess if he can’t have her no one can. The ship sinks into the deathly cold of the Atlantic. Rose and Jack are separated.
Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: The decks are in chaos as the last lifeboats are loaded. Rose and Jack encounter Mr. Andrews who confesses he wishes to stay aboard the ship. Jack’s friend, Tommy is shot by a bastardo as the band plays to the end. Numerous other passengers struggle with the fact they are about to die.
Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 154 of 187 minutes (82.3%) – Rose and Jack make their way to the stern of the ship, knowing it is about to go under. Jack pulls Rose up onto the railing as the ship goes vertical.
As the ship slowly sinks, Jack tells Rose to hold his hand, kick, and not let go. She let’s go anyway. When Rose reaches the surfaces the world is in chaos, but Jack somehow manages to find her.
The reunited lovers swim away from the panicked masses. Rose gets aboard a piece of wood, but Jack can’t because he’s no good with physics. Rose tells Jack she loves him. He tells her she must live on to make babies and die an old lady. He makes her promise she will survive.
When the lifeboats finally come back, Rose awakens to find Jack is a handsome Popsicle.
The lifeboats pass her while she is saying her goodbyes to Jack’s corpse. She tries to scream for them to come back but has no voice. In a last-ditch effort, she swims over to a dead guy, steals his whistle and blows it. Hearing her, the lifeboats come about.
Act Run Time: 38 minutes of 187 minutes (20.3%)
ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION
Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation.
Act Start Time: 178 of 187 minutes (95.2%)
Having survived the sinking of the ship through Jack’s ultimate sacrifice, Rose is shown to have honored her promise to him by not marrying Cal and living a full and happy life on her own terms.
The New Situation: Rose Prime gives the death toll in contrast to the number of survivors. Mr. Lovett, the leader of the expedition to find the missing heart-of-the-ocean diamond, finally “gets it”. Rose Prime throws the ridiculously expensive diamond into the ocean and watches it sink. We see Rose has lead a happy life through the pictures she conveniently displays on her nightstand. She either dies or falls asleep and is reunited with Jack and the other passengers aboard Titanic, who all offer a round of applause at her final kiss with Jack as the screen fades to white.
Act Run Time: 9 of 187 minutes (4.8%)
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i like this story
EXCELLENT DETAIL OF KEY POINTS. I AM GRATEFUL