“Wilson!”: The Prop That Became a Movie Icon

Robert Zemeckis’ Cast Away is a lot of emotions packed into two hours and 23 minutes. Starring the talented Tom Hanks, the narrative follows FedEx executive Chuck Noland, whose life is changed forever when he is stranded on an island after surviving a plane crash.

On the surface, the film explores themes of survival and isolation, but over time, the spotlight shifts to Noland’s profound psychological transformation brought about by isolation, and his struggle to blend back into society after being rescued from his four-year-long ordeal.

Zemeckis is far from stingy with visual motifs or symbolism in this poignant tale of transformation. In this article, we analyze how Zemeckis turns an inanimate volleyball into a pivotal emotional anchor of the narrative.

Who is Wilson?

Wilson needs no introduction. You might forget the name of Hank’s character in Cast Away, but not Wilson. But, for those who know nothing about the film, Wilson is a volleyball. Considering Zemeckis presents Wilson as the second lead of the story, you could definitely say he is another survivor of the same plane crash.

'Cast Away'Source: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Pictures

Stranded on the island all on his own with nothing but nature, saline water, and damaged FedEx packages around him, Chuck is desperate to find something…anything that will keep him alive. As he rummages through the FedEx packages in vain, he discovers a Wilson-brand volleyball in one of them.

Bored and desperate to find a companion, Chuck draws a face on the ball with his own blood and names it Wilson.

Zemeckis’ Personification of Wilson, the Volleyball

Wilson the Volleyball in 'Cast Away'Source: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Pictures

A character is defined by his arc, and Zemeckis simply etches out a clear developmental arc for Wilson, alongside Chuck’s, to breathe life into this volleyball. This means, instead of reducing Wilson to a mere action prop, Zemeckis treats “him” (it feels only natural) as a supporting character to the protagonist.

Decoding Wilson As A Visual Motif

Here’s what Chuck and Wilson’s bond represents:

1. The Tendency To Look For Light In The Darkness

Chuck surviving the plane crash is his fate—something he has no control over. Just the way he has no control over the fact that he is left stranded on an isolated island. The birth of Wilson, on the surface, may mark Chuck’s resourcefulness, but deep down, it is a visual representation of his desperate craving for companionship and bliss. It’s beautiful how humans, even at their lowest, will draw a happy face, not a sad one. Wilson’s face, two dots for eyes and a curve for a smile, is a symbol of mankind’s primal instinct to look for joy. Chuck naming the volleyball marks the acceptance of his fate and Wilson’s acknowledgement as a person.

2. Humans Are Social Beings

Gradually, Wilson turns into Chuck’s companion, the only one. Naturally, he becomes everything that Chuck is looking for emotionally. Over the course of their one-sided conversations, Wilson turns into Chuck’s confidant, “listening” to his struggles and triumphs, “supporting” him in his lows, all while keeping him company in warm silence.

The relationship between Wilson and Chuck is intimate. Sometimes Chuck bickers with him like he is his spouse; other times, Wilson becomes his blank canvas, where he can project his emotions without a hitch. Two eyes and a mouth, yet Wilson doesn’t judge or hurt with his words; without an ear, yet Wilson listens with complete focus. If you ask me, Wilson is emotionally superior to most humans I know today. Maybe that’s why it is so easy to connect with him.

Chuck’s connection to Wilson flips what we usually know as normal. Talking to an inanimate object is insanity in our world, yet Wilson was the only thing that kept Chuck sane during his four years stranded on the island. A divine irony, if you ask me.

3. The Art Of Letting Go

Eventually, Chuck builds a raft to escape the island and brings his friend Wilson with him. This one decision marks the bond they share. While at sea, trying to row their way back to humanity, a storm hits the raft, nearly causing a wreck. Although the two survive the storm, the following day Wilson accidentally falls into the ocean. Despite desperate attempts, Chuck cannot save Wilson. Realizing that going after it would likely lead to his own death, Chuck decides to forego Wilson, carrying the guilt and loss in his heart forever.

Imagine if the flight had never crashed—Wilson would’ve been lying in the dusty corner of some child’s living room. Chuck would’ve probably been leading a decent life with his wife. Yet, a twist of fate brought them together (sounds like a super romantic meet-cute!). Four years later, it was fate that pulled them apart through a literal life-or-death choice.

While some argue that Wilson is a visual reminder of every prospect that Chuck lost over these four years of isolation, I like to believe that Wilson, as it drifts away on the sea, represents a part of Chuck that is about to be lost once he returns to his city life. At the same time, Wilson’s loss represents how letting go is as much a part of life as is attachment.

Wilson is a friend who comes into your life with a purpose—think God send. And so is Tom Hanks’ performance in Cast Away as he emotionally entangles you in his one-sided conversations with Wilson, the volleyball. Pure magic! Which is your favorite Wilson-Chuck moment in the movie?