If you found yourself in a
situation of the Zombie Apocalypse and the only way to escape it was to
demonstrate self-sacrifice and well-being would you do it, even if you knew
there was a slight chance of dying? In the movie, This is the End, Jay and Seth witness customers in a convenience
store suddenly being carried away by beams of blue light from the sky(Ahhh!!). Jay and
Seth flee from the store back to James’ house amidst mass chaos, such as
explosions and car crashes.The six friends are trapped inside James’ house during the Apocalypse unaware of what is actually happening in the outside world apart from the house. Not knowing who else besides the six of them are alive, they need to help each other to try to survive, hoping they will be rescued since they are actors. Jay realizes that only the people who were selfless and good were taken to Heaven by the blue beams of light. Jay as well as the other guys face the fact that they were not taken to Heaven because they are all superficial and selfish actors. They all need to find a way to redeem themselves and prove that they are not a group of narcissistic actors.
When the guys were trying to escape
the house and get to safety, Craig decides to make a diversion to allow Seth,
Jay, and James to get away unharmed and find shelter. When he is making a
diversion, Craig knows the consequences of being eaten and dying. However, he
knows if he sacrifices his own life it will save the other guys. If Craig did
not sacrifice his life, then all of them would not be able to escape and could have been eaten and died. This is a very ethical topic, self-sacrifice,
the most important way to prove selflessness. This is a prime example of
Utilitarianism!! Utilitarianism states that one should consider the good of
others as well as one’s own good. When Craig sacrificed his life he knew that
he had a chance of dying but he was doing it for the greater good of
his friends and proving that he was not a narcissistic actor. “People’s
actions are not always selfish, since people harm themselves and do things that
do not work out to their advantage” (Salazar, 2).
I think Craig made the best
decision he could have made and a Utilitarian would agree as well. “Utilitarianism
also states that each person is simply one more conscious being able to
experience PAIN and PLEASURE. One should benefit oneself only if those acts
benefit the whole conscious life, where measurements of benefit include both
short- and long-term consequences” (Salazar, 1). Craig self-sacrificed his life before he was about to be eaten and is taken up by a blue beam of light into Heaven. Craig didn’t know the outcome of
sacrificing himself; therefore it is not a selfish act on his part. It also benefits his friends and himself, so Utilitarians would agree that he did the right thing.
Seth, Jay, and James see that self-sacrifice
works when Craig sacrifices his life so they could be saved. Realizing this, the guys start to talk nice
about each other in the car on their way to safety. Later, they learn that they are only acting nice superficially and being kind is not enough
to redeem themselves. Giving compliments is not enough to escape the apocalypse and being
eaten by zombies. However, they are still acting
selfish because they want to be saved like Craig. After trying this approach they realize they need to actually demonstrate
true self-sacrifice and can no longer be shallow people.
Near the end, James
sacrifices his life, by distracting the Zombies so Seth and Jay are able to escape.
This action allows James to become redeemed and be taken up into heaven.
However, as the blue beam of light is taking him up, he becomes conceded about
it and shows that he did not sacrifice his life strictly for the benefit of his friends.
This goes against Kantianism, which is about good will. “One must be motivated
from duty, seeking to do what is right because it is right, and not from
self-interest or sympathy” (Salazar, 1). James was not sacrificing his life out
of selfless reasons; he was doing the right thing in order to save his own
life. James is dropped out of the beam of light and surrounded again by
zombies who later eat him.
Seth and Jay realize what happened to James and how he threw his opportunity away. Both guys quickly become surrounded by zombies and know they have no way of escaping. With their last few moments together as best friends, Jay sincerely apologizes to Seth for every selfish act he has done to him. As Seth accepts the apology, Jay is surprised when he is taken by the light. He grabs onto Seth to try to take him along; however, because Jay is holding onto Seth the beam is starting to break. Instead of both friends falling and being eaten, Seth lets go of Jay's hand. He sacrifices his own life so Jay can be saved, knowing that he will die instead. Seth's benevolent action allows him to also be saved by the light and he and Jay are both taken into Heaven together.
In the end, all six friends learn that displaying Utilitarian and Kantian ideals, and ultimately looking out for each other will allow them to escape the apocalypse and have their own form of salvation.
References
Salazar, Heather. “Self-Interest,” The New
Catholic Encyclopedia, Series on Ethics and Morality, ed. by Robert
Fastiggi. Gale Cengage Learning, 2013
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