Contrast Between Edward Cole and Carter Chambers in The Bucket List - Essay Example

Comparison and Contrast Essay – Edward and Carter in ‘The Bucket List’ The Bucket List is a movie about two different strangers who are both about to die of cancer. ‎Edward Cole is a rich man who owns hospitals while, Carter Chambers is a poor mechanic with ‎extraordinary historical insight. These two man share a common room during their last months of life, ‎and share their life stories. Within that time only, they become best friends. A bucket list is prepared by ‎these two ill people, which is a “wish list” of things they want to do in life before they die.‎ The two characters of the movie are extreme opposite of each other, yet are very similar. The following essay aims at highlighting the differences and similarities between Edward Cole and Carter Chambers.‎ The Differences The analysis of the main characters of the movie has unveiled that there are some major differences in these two characters. Some of the major differences are explained below ‎1.‎ Their professional lives.‎ Edward Cole was a billionaire, a wealthy man who made business out of nothing. He owned the ‎hospital that he and Mr Chambers were receiving treatments in. Mr. Cole made his fortune in the health ‎industry as shown in movie, that he earlier was presenting his case on making patients share one room, ‎and also the expenditure that he bourn for the travelling. A self-centred man, who did not like sharing ‎his hospital room with Carter, and also, when Thomas served his lavish dinner, he made no sharing offer ‎to his room-mate. Also, when Carter felt the chills at night, he ignored and kept on sleeping .While on the other hand, Mr. Chambers was an ordinary mechanic who spent his life under the ‎cars, fixing them. Yet, Mr. Chambers was blessed with extraordinary love and knowledge of history. Like shown in the movie, Mr. Chambers knew the answers to every question which the fellow mechanic ‎asked from a book, and also, at different points in movie, when he knew the answers to all the berries ‎shown on hospital TV. While Edward was ignorant, Carter did opposite to what Edward did. When ‎Edward felt chilly, he called over the nurse to drug Edward for a peaceful sleep.‎ ‎2.‎ Their vision Edward Cole was a materialist man. He earlier was shown arguing over the fact that there is no ‎harm in making the patients share a room together as he said “he was running a healthcare and not a ‎health spa”. It was his theory that “one room two beds” allowed better accommodation. And also on ‎the list, he had all materialistic items such as having a tattoo and skydiving. Mr. Cole was also not a firm ‎believer of god, whom he called “biggie” on his first flight with Carter.‎ Mr. Chambers was extreme opposite in viewing life. He viewed life deeply and from a different lens ‎altogether. He although was a mechanic, he believed in treating humanity with kindness. He on his list ‎had items like “share happiness” and “laugh till he cries”. He believed into knowledge and divinity. He ‎had a faith to live with.‎ ‎3.‎ Their families These two people shared a totally uncommon family life and a feeling of family.‎ Mr. Cole was married four times in his life. He in earlier part of the movie did not even mention the ‎existence of his daughter, instead said “he was not married long enough for a child”. His daughter and he ‎did not have peace, nor did they meet. Edward was a self-centred man, and fought upon his only ‎daughter over her husband. She chose to marry a guy whom Edward disapproved of. Mr. Cole told ‎about his daughter’s story in France, while about the reasons of distance while he and Mr. Carter were ‎visiting Egypt. He had his son in law got beaten up because of physical abuse marks on her daughter, ‎Emily’s face. This made Emily call her dad names, including that “he was dead to her”. Nobody visited ‎Edward at hospital except for his personal valet, Thomas. And he also mentioned that “dying alone was ‎not a problem for him.‎ Carter Chambers was, on the other hand blessed with a loving family. His wife, Virginia, and he ‎had been married for forty five years and has two children, and grandchildren too. The movie shows ‎that the side wall of his hospital bed has greeting cards from family members wishing his health and love. ‎His wife often visits him at the hospital too, and so did his eldest son. He had never thought of another ‎woman in his life, and was loyal to her wife’s love. Even when Edward planted another woman at the ‎bar with him, he declined the offer, to stay loyal to his wife.‎ Similarities The basic similarities found in the characters of these two characters of the movie have been identified and explained below ‎1.‎ Same illness Edward and Carter shared the same illness, which was cancer. Both of them did not have ample ‎time to live their lives. They shared their experiences of kimotheraphy, the treatment to cancer. They ‎could understand the pain of each other and relate to it.‎ Even though Carter was admitted months before Edward, they could easily communicate as initial ice-‎breakers. Like when in the movie, Edward’s doctor told Edward about kimo, he responded by asking ‎Carter of how the experience was and what exactly will he be going through.‎ Also, when Edward was told that he only has 6 months to live, Carter also wanted to know how long ‎will he live, and what is his progress. They shared same agony to watch their life wrap up in coil and ‎they were just counting the days.‎ ‎2.‎ Passion to travel When Carter was preparing a “metaphoric” bucket list, it appealed Edward too. They decided ‎to see the World together. Edward was rich to support the expenditure, and enjoy the lavishness of ‎roaming around the World, while, Carter was an amateur historian, and he wanted to live the history and taste ‎the olden times. They together made a list of all the places they wanted to visit, and Carter had a tale for all of ‎them. They visited France, Taj Mahal of India, rode a bike on Great Wall of China, Hong Kong and ‎many more places.‎ Edward enjoyed listening to stories that Carter had to tell about every location they visited. Like at Taj ‎Mahal, Mr. Chambers told Edward of how Shah Jehan had 14 children and this building was a proof of ‎eternal love to his wife.‎ ‎3.‎ Same end to death Edward and Carter were shown in the movie, discussing how they wanted to be treated after ‎death. Edward feared the heat if their bodies were burnt, and suggested to be kept frozen, when Carter ‎explained of how the remains, the ashes of the burn are canned, and stored, it appealed Edward. And ‎that is how they rest eternally.‎ Mr. Chambers died earlier than Mr. Cole, yet the remains of both were canned and buried on the peaks ‎of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on earth, along with their “bucket list”.‎ Conclusion Edward and Carter, two completely different people, trapped together in a hospital room ‎sharing the same pain and feelings, being readable to each other make a list of things they wish to ‎complete before their lives end. The bucket list was a common, shared happiness. It changed who they ‎were initially. Edward, closer to death became more kind, and less selfish because of the company he ‎had of Mr. Chambers, who on the other hand looks life from a different perspective and become strong ‎about his own passions. Carter always thought of his family, and gave up his dream of being a professor ‎of history. The list gave them both a chance to live.‎ The analysis of these characters could be sum up towards a logical conclusion that one should constantly carry on with their lives as though they are going to bite the dust ‎tomorrow. Not as in they ought to be hopeless supposing they are never going to have the capacity to ‎see the one day from now, however one should make life the best it could be. This is the thing that I ‎have gained from the movie, live every minute like it is your last. Some individuals never find the ‎opportunity to figure out when they will pass on and they don't generally get to finish things throughout ‎their life that they might want to do. On the other hand, some individuals might not want to know the ‎date that they will never again be around. Passing on is frightening, and when you know when you're ‎heading off to, some individuals take it hard and as opposed to making the best of it, they get ‎discouraged and do nothing else with their life. This film it could be said demonstrates to you has to ‎make the best of it. Making a container rundown might be a great thought, so you recognize what you ‎might want to get achieved.‎ Works Cited The Bucket List. Director: Reiner, Rob. USA: Castle Rock Entertainment. 2008. Movie. Read More