Titanic and the portrayals of Molly Brown

Leadville, Colorado

James Cameron’s film is one of many movies, television shows and plays about Titanic's sinking. The tragedy remains iconic in the American conscious as a cautionary tale of hubris leading to disaster, counterpoised by the struggle between self-sacrifice and survival. The most iconic figure is Molly Brown. As an upper class woman, she obtained a lifeboat seat and escaped this existential dilemma. It was her advocacy for the survivors and her other philanthropies which made her so endearing at the time. The various portrayals of Molly Brown reflect the changing American culture since the time of Titanic.

Gunnar