The Isolated Hero: Papillon (1973), Cast Away (2000), and the Myth of Philoctetes

Abstract

Franklin J. Schaffners 1973 film Papillon depicts the grueling conditions endured by Henri “Papillon” Charrière in a French Guianese penal colony and his famous escape from the notorious Devil’s Island after being falsely convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. En route, Papillon (Steve McQueen) befriends his fellow inmate Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), and each man quickly becomes indispensable to the survival of the other. Following two failed escape attempts, Papillon is punished in solitary confinement. Even more devastating than his extremely cramped cell and meager rations is the psychological toll inflicted on him by a lack of human companionship, a trauma that stems from Papillons inability to engage a partner in speech. Upon his release, Papillons mind craves and is reconstituted by conversation, no less than his body longs for food and medicine.