Just watched The Whale movie and I'm already a huge fan of The Whale, but I’m surprised by how many people misinterpret Charlie’s character.
(I utilized AI assistance to enhance my writing process.)
Critics often call him selfish for overeating despite reconnecting with his daughter, arguing that true love would push him to recover. However, the film isn’t about Charlie’s redemption. His binge eating stems from deep guilt and self-hatred after abandoning his family and failing his lover. Living with that shame, he feels unworthy of life or his daughter’s love, believing he deserves death. Saving money for her is his way of justifying his existence while keeping her at a distance, as he doesn’t think he merits a place in her life.
When Charlie finally reaches out to his daughter, it’s not a calculated choice. Dying and desperate to leave something positive, he cautiously tries to rebuild a connection, not to seek forgiveness but to ensure she doesn’t hate him entirely. His actions reflect the messy emotions of a flawed person who no longer wants to live but still hopes to do something right.
Those who say Charlie should “just stop eating” miss the point. His overeating isn’t about loving food—it’s self-punishment driven by depression. Severe depression makes it hard to fight for survival when you feel worthless and believe others are better off without you. Even his instinct to live clings on, making his self-destruction a painful compromise. Hiding his savings from his caretaker wasn’t malice; he felt unworthy of recovery and knew she’d try to save him.
The frustration others feel toward Charlie is realistic, but it’s frustrating that no one grasps why a mentally ill person acts irrationally. Charlie isn’t a hero or villain—just a broken man who made terrible choices, suffered for them, and is now a shadow of himself. The Whale doesn’t excuse his past but portrays a tragic, real-world scenario where happy endings or clear lessons are rare.
