So, what does the "index of" and "link" refer to in the context of "In the Heart of the Sea"? An index is a list of references or citations to information, usually found at the back of a book or document. In the digital age, an index can also refer to a list of links or references to online content.
The whaleship Essex was a Nantucket-based vessel that set sail in August 1819 on a whaling expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The ship was commanded by George Pollard Jr. and had a crew of 21 men, including Owen Chase, the first mate. On November 20, 1820, disaster struck when a massive sperm whale attacked and sank the Essex. The crew was forced to abandon ship and survive on small boats, facing extreme hardships, including starvation, dehydration, and exposure to the elements.
The film "In the Heart of the Sea" takes creative liberties with the true story of the Essex, but it stays true to the spirit of the crew's harrowing experience. The movie follows the journey of the Essex and its crew as they hunt for whales in the Pacific. The film's title, "In the Heart of the Sea," refers to the phrase used by Owen Chase to describe the location where the whale attacked the Essex.
The ordeal of the Essex crew lasted for 83 days, during which they had to resort to cannibalism to stay alive. Only eight men survived, including Chase and Pollard, who were rescued by a British ship on February 5, 1821. The story of the Essex was well-known in Nantucket, and it inspired Herman Melville to write his classic novel "Moby-Dick" in 1851.
The film's director, Ron Howard, chose the title because it captured the essence of the story, which is about the journey into the heart of the ocean, where the crew faced their greatest fears and challenges. The title also references the symbolic heart of the sea, which represents the unknown, the sublime, and the terrifying power of nature.