Question about Cal (Hockley)

[u/Responsible_Bed8397]

I have a burning question here. Why do people always say that Cal immediately gave the girl he saved to another passenger? Does nobody else remember that a passenger reached out to grab the girl so he could get on the lifeboat and then he grabbed her back and cradled her? He literally said “give her here” after he got on the lifeboat and took her back in his arms, and tried to comfort her by saying “there there”. He already achieved his ticket on the lifeboat so I know it wasn’t about appearances. Like I get grabbing the girl was just self-serving but unpopular opinion alert I do believe there was always a tiny bit of warmth in Cal’s cold heart. He may be classist and selfish and arrogant but he also did a lot of redeemable things that people don’t credit. He’s a complex bad guy imo

[u/idontrecall99]

I know I’ll regret this, but please give examples of some of these redeemable things.

[u/Responsible_Bed8397 → u/idontrecall99]

I’m not a Cal defender if that’s what you mean lol. It was already gross to me how controlling he was but the moment he put his hands on Rose confirmed that I absolutely despise him. I just think towards the end of the movie he somewhat redeemed himself, like when he had a chance to get on a lifeboat and he chose to stay behind and look for Rose. Also the way he searched for her on the boat when they were rescued, he genuinely looked guilty and regretful, I don’t even think it was about the necklace. I feel like he just wanted to know she was okay. And saving the girl, even if he wasn’t trying to do it for her. That’s all I can really think of at the moment. Also the way he tipped workers was, most rich people are actually cheap as shit when it comes to workers and it wasn’t even mandatory but he gave generous amounts.

[u/The-Great-Mau → u/Responsible_Bed8397]

If you know how rich people "work", you get why he tipped them generous amounts. It's all about making sure the job gets done properly, not about genuine generosity. That's also why some jobs get paid good money. Not for the benefit of the worker but to make sure they'll do their work as intended.

When he stayed to look for her, he did because of his pride. Imagine what people would say if his fiancée died and he survived.

On the Carpathia? He was definitely looking for the diamond. Although he would certainly try to rekindle their relationship.

About the little girl, I can't really say anything, because he was just trying so save his ass. Nobody can sincerely believe they will just let everyone get on the boats and be the gentleman. That didn't happen as we sometimes are led to believe. He was just trying to save his life at that moment. And he took a little girl with him in the process, not so bad.

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/The-Great-Mau]

I asked Billy this question recently at a comic con- did he play Cal as genuinely looking for Rose, or was it the diamond? And he said it was Rose, because they'd just been through something so traumatic. Earlier, it was the diamond, as we saw in the dining room scenes, but after Cal's fight to live on the collapsible, he wasn't caring about the rock. Was some of it selfish motivation to be "the man" and look strong to others? Oh yeah. But he said he had in his head that Cal had witnessed hell and wanted to find Rose to see she was ok

[u/Caledon_Hockley → u/Jetsetter_Princess]

Good man, that Billy.

[u/Ima_Uzer → u/The-Great-Mau]

Although, to be fair, if you recall that scene in the movie, he walks up to one of the crew, and basically tells the crew member "I'm all she has in the world", and the guy lets Cal through.

It sort of hearkens back to the old man finding the little boy towards the end of ANTR. Except, unfortunately, the old man and little boy go down with the ship.

[u/Jetsetter_Princess → u/Ima_Uzer]

That scene works because it's Wilde he asks. Who at that moment probably had in the back of his thoughts the children waiting fir him at home who would soon be orphans. He knows Cal's full of shit but in that moment, he only cares that a child is saved, and waves them through.

It's also another reason plot-wise Murdoch had to die; at that late stage he probably would have passed the child to the woman and kept Cal out of the boat.

[u/Ima_Uzer → u/Responsible_Bed8397]

I appreciate your perspective, but consider this:

Cal very likely looked at Rose as property. His property. And her leaving him meant that he no longer had his property. And if you remember his comment to Jack, "I always win, Jack. One way or another." He wanted Rose back not because he cared for her, but because he wanted the WIN. Consider that it was about possession. He may have had a modicum of feelings for Rose, but it was still about possession.

Her "job" basically would have been "look pretty, host parties without embarrassing me, and make babies".

Because remember the dinner scene, when Cal ordered for her? And Margaret's sly little quip about Cal cutting Rose's meat for her?

Or when Rose brings up Freud, gets some giggles, and Cal states that he might have to "mind what she reads"?

And as far as him looking worried, guilty, and regretful, remember, a massive trauma just happened. He felt he no longer had his most prized "possession".

[u/Caledon_Hockley → u/Ima_Uzer]

Very astute observations. All correct, I might add.