The conflict of rival magicians in The Prestige has given rise to many interpretations of what their conflict symbolizes. Throughout the film, their rivalry is shown to have deeper philosophical meaning and subtext.
I'd like to know what you think Angier's and Borden's rivalry and conflict with each other symbolizes in the film.
Angier's struggle is that he strives to grasp something unattainable...that stubborn insatiability, with a hint of envy and jealousy . The scene where he refuses to believe that Borden uses a body double is the most revealing about him.
Borden's conflicted with the desires of a perfewctionist, and as a result he must make sacrifices. Also, it seems as if he gets a bit of joy out of danglin the "prize" in front of Angier's face.
I don't think there's any hidden symbolism in these two opposing each other. Their conflict is a result of incompatible personalities. They are meant to destroy each other when they are in contact.
talli wrote:I don't think there's any hidden symbolism in these two opposing each other. Their conflict is a result of incompatible personalities. They are meant to destroy each other when they are in contact.
Interesting, as I saw their conflict as a metaphor for religion vs. science. It's displayed in their methods, Borden's traditional practice and reliance on the "spiritualism" of magic and Angier's reliance on technology and science.
I thought this was also made more apparent with the time period of the film, a world on the brink of an explosion in scientific and technological progress.
talli wrote:I don't think there's any hidden symbolism in these two opposing each other. Their conflict is a result of incompatible personalities. They are meant to destroy each other when they are in contact.
Interesting, as I saw their conflict as a metaphor for religion vs. science. It's displayed in their methods, Borden's traditional practice and reliance on the "spiritualism" of magic and Angier's reliance on technology and science.
I thought this was also made more apparent with the time period of the film, a world on the brink of an explosion in scientific and technological progress.
very intresting POV
angier cannot explain to himself how can borden's trick be so simple (because he thinks it's the same man) and yet he's not able to perform it himself. for angier, borden seems to have some kind of communion with magic that he yerns to have but lacks. angier fails to see that this comunion it's not a prize, but something you must create by your own means. the worse blind man is the one who doesn't want to see
