The 2024 movie “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” explores human nature, ethics, and the potential for peaceful coexistence between humans and intelligent apes. The film’s ending is particularly striking, as it reveals that humans have reestablished themselves, regained their older knowledge, and made contact with other human communities worldwide. This climax features a tense meeting between two characters, Mae and Noa, which serves as a powerful lens through which to examine the concept of the security dilemma.
Human Nature and Ethical Ambiguities
In the final scene, Mae meets with Noa while concealing a gun behind her back. Although she never reveals or uses the weapon, hiding it introduces significant ethical and philosophical questions. Mae explains that humans deserve another chance because they were once the dominant species. Noa, however, questions whether humans and apes can coexist peacefully. Mae’s concealed gun symbolizes a lack of trust and readiness for violence, suggesting an intrinsic aspect of human nature: the tendency to prepare for conflict when faced with uncertainty.
The ethical ambiguity of Mae’s action is noteworthy. On one hand, her gun concealment can be seen as a pragmatic measure of self-protection in a precarious situation. On the other hand, it can be viewed as deceitful, indicating bad faith. By hiding the gun, Mae undermines the potential for building genuine trust and mutual understanding between humans and apes, which is crucial for peaceful coexistence.
Power Dynamics, Redemption, and the Security Dilemma
Mae’s act of hiding the gun also reflects underlying power dynamics. Despite humans losing their dominance, Mae’s action suggests a lingering belief in human superiority or a reluctance to accept equality with apes fully and the complexities of overcoming entrenched power hierarchies and prejudices.
Mae’s belief that humans deserve another chance reflects an optimistic view of human potential for redemption and change. However, the concealed gun tempers this optimism with realism, acknowledging that the path to redemption is fraught with difficulties and contradictions. This duality captures the tension between hope for a better future and the reality of persistent mistrust.
The concept of the security dilemma, a fundamental theory in international relations, is particularly relevant to this scenario. The security dilemma describes a situation where actions taken by a state to increase its security can lead to increased insecurity for other states. This often creates a cycle of escalation and conflict, even if no side originally intended to be aggressive.
Applying the security dilemma to the ending of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” provides a deeper understanding of the human-ape relations depicted in the film
Mae’s Concealed Gun as a Security Measure
Mae hides a gun behind her back, perceiving it as a necessary precaution to ensure her own safety during the meeting with Noa. From Mae’s perspective, this action is a defensive measure to protect herself against any potential threat from Noa.
Noa’s Perception and Response: If Noa were to discover Mae’s concealed gun, it could escalate mistrust. Noa might interpret the hidden weapon as a sign of Mae’s readiness to resort to violence, prompting him to take similar precautions or even preemptive actions to ensure his own safety and that of his fellow apes. Even without directly discovering the gun, Noa’s inherent suspicion and questioning of peaceful coexistence reflect the underlying tension and potential for misunderstanding.
Cycle of Escalation: The presence of the gun creates a latent threat, exemplifying the security dilemma. Mae’s attempt to enhance her security paradoxically undermines the potential for trust and cooperation, fostering a sense of insecurity and suspicion in Noa. If Noa and other apes were to respond by arming themselves or taking defensive measures, it would further exacerbate the cycle of mistrust and potential conflict, making peaceful coexistence increasingly difficult.
Breakdown of Communication and Trust: The security dilemma highlights the difficulty in achieving transparent and honest communication between the two groups. Mae’s concealment of the gun is a barrier to open dialogue, preventing the establishment of mutual trust. This mirrors real-world situations where states often compromise diplomatic resolution and trust-building opportunities by prioritizing their own security, inadvertently escalating tensions.
Implications for Coexistence: Noa’s question about the possibility of peaceful coexistence between apes and humans points to the core dilemma of the narrative. The concealed gun is a metaphor for the obstacles to achieving true harmony. It suggests that peaceful coexistence remains fragile and challenging if there is an undercurrent of fear and mistrust.
Breaking the Cycle
The ending suggests that humans and apes must overcome the security dilemma for them to coexist peacefully. This requires both sides to engage in trust-building measures, transparency, and a commitment to non-violence. The concealed gun symbolizes the deep-seated fears and insecurities that must be addressed for true peace to be achievable. It serves as a reminder that actions perceived as defensive by one side can be seen as threatening by the other, perpetuating a cycle of mutual distrust.
Breaking free from the cycle of the security dilemma involves fostering open communication, transparency, and mutual understanding. Both humans and apes need to recognize the impact of their actions on each other’s perceptions of security. Both species can work towards a more stable and peaceful coexistence by prioritizing trust and cooperation over self-preservation through violence.
Personal Reflection on Human Nature and Coexistence
Reflecting on the narrative and themes of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” I contemplate the deeper aspects of human nature and our capacity for coexistence with another intelligent species. The film’s portrayal of Mae’s concealed gun and the ensuing tension with Noa resonates with my belief that humans possess an incredible potential for empathy, cooperation, and redemption, but we are also often hindered by our intrinsic fears and mistrust. This duality in human nature underscores the importance of conscious effort in overcoming our darker impulses. If we are ever to coexist peacefully with another intelligent species, we must embrace transparency, foster genuine trust, and prioritize mutual understanding over self-preservation through violence. Through these deliberate actions, we can hope to build a future where diverse intelligent beings can thrive together, recognizing each other’s worth and potential.
Post Scriptum 🦍
It is worth noting that the movie’s depiction of gorillas as inherently violent is a significant departure from reality. In fact, gorillas are among the most peaceful apes, known for their gentle nature and complex social structures. This artistic license underscores the broader themes of misunderstanding and prejudice, reminding us of the importance of seeking accurate knowledge and fostering empathy in our interactions with other species.
Image created with OpenAI DALL·E 3.