Glass meticulously deconstructs the superhero genre, trapping David Dunn, Mr. Glass, and Kevin Wendell Crumb (The Horde) within a psychiatric facility where their powers are challenged, ultimately revealing a global conspiracy designed to suppress superhuman potential and maintain the illusion of normalcy. The film culminates in a tragic showdown, exposing the truth about their abilities to the world, albeit at the cost of their lives.
The Unbreakable, The Intelligent, and The Beast: A Confinement Conundrum
M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass, the culmination of his Unbreakable universe, doesn’t offer simple good versus evil. Instead, it throws three distinctly different super-powered individuals into a pressure cooker, forcing them to confront their identities and the very nature of their extraordinary gifts. The movie’s core conflict revolves around Dr. Ellie Staple, a psychiatrist specializing in treating individuals with delusions of grandeur. She believes that David Dunn (The Overseer), Elijah Price (Mr. Glass), and Kevin Wendell Crumb (The Horde/The Beast) are merely suffering from severe psychological disorders, and her mission is to “cure” them.
The film follows David Dunn, now operating as a vigilante alongside his son, Joseph, as he tracks down Kevin Wendell Crumb and The Horde, leading to a confrontation that attracts the attention of Dr. Staple and her team. All three, including the ever-scheming Mr. Glass, are subsequently incarcerated at Raven Hill Memorial Psychiatric Research Hospital.
Within the facility, Staple employs various methods, including medication, therapy sessions, and specialized equipment, to undermine their belief in their powers. She presents logical explanations for their abilities, attributing them to heightened adrenaline, confirmation bias, and other psychological phenomena. The film cleverly plays with the audience’s perception, blurring the lines between reality and delusion, leaving viewers questioning the true nature of their abilities alongside the characters themselves.
Mr. Glass, despite appearing catatonic, is revealed to be orchestrating a complex plan. He has foreseen a final confrontation that will expose the existence of superhumans to the world, shattering the illusion of normalcy. His plan relies on triggering Kevin’s most dangerous personality, The Beast, and using David’s strength to break free from the facility.
The climax unfolds as Mr. Glass’s carefully laid plans come to fruition. The Beast escapes, engaging in a brutal battle with David. This confrontation is broadcast via security cameras to a global network controlled by a secret organization dedicated to suppressing superhuman abilities. Dr. Staple and her team are revealed to be part of this organization, which has been eliminating superhumans for generations to maintain order and prevent societal upheaval.
Ultimately, all three characters meet tragic ends. David drowns in a puddle, a weakness exploited by the organization. Mr. Glass is killed by Kevin, who finally reconciles his fractured personalities before succumbing to his wounds. Despite their deaths, Mr. Glass’s final act succeeds. Joseph Dunn, Casey Cooke (Kevin’s former caretaker), and Elijah’s mother retrieve the security footage and leak it online, revealing the truth about superhumans to the world. The film ends with the suggestion that this revelation will inspire others to embrace their own unique abilities.
Decoding the Glass Narrative: Key Themes and Interpretations
Glass delves into complex themes surrounding identity, belief, and the nature of reality. It explores the idea that belief can shape reality, and that the suppression of potential can have devastating consequences. The film also offers a commentary on the power of narratives and the dangers of control.
The Power of Belief
The central theme of Glass is the power of belief. The characters’ abilities are not merely physical; they are intrinsically linked to their unwavering belief in themselves and their extraordinary potential. Dr. Staple’s attempts to “cure” them are aimed at dismantling this belief, weakening their powers. The film suggests that if people are convinced they are ordinary, they will remain so, regardless of their true capabilities.
The Suppression of Potential
The secret organization depicted in Glass represents a larger societal force that seeks to suppress individuality and maintain the status quo. Their motives are rooted in fear of the unknown and a desire for control. By eliminating superhumans, they prevent challenges to their authority and preserve the illusion of normalcy. This theme resonates with real-world concerns about conformity, censorship, and the stifling of innovation.
Shattering the Illusion
Mr. Glass’s ultimate goal is to shatter the illusion of normalcy and expose the truth about superhumans to the world. He believes that humanity deserves to know its full potential, even if it means disrupting the established order. His actions can be interpreted as a call to embrace individuality and challenge the limitations imposed by society.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Glass
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass to further your understanding:
FAQ 1: What is Dr. Staple’s real motivation in Glass?
Dr. Staple is not simply a psychiatrist trying to cure her patients. She’s part of a secret organization dedicated to suppressing superhuman abilities, believing they pose a threat to societal stability. Her goal is to convince David, Elijah, and Kevin that their powers are delusions, thus neutralizing them.
FAQ 2: How does Glass connect to Unbreakable and Split?
Glass serves as the direct sequel to both Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2016). It brings together the main characters from both films – David Dunn from Unbreakable and Kevin Wendell Crumb from Split – and features Elijah Price (Mr. Glass) from Unbreakable, who was mentioned but didn’t appear in Split. It completes the Eastrail 177 Trilogy.
FAQ 3: Why is Mr. Glass considered a supervillain?
Elijah Price, a.k.a. Mr. Glass, suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, making his bones extremely brittle. He believes he exists to counterbalance the existence of someone unbreakable, like David Dunn. He orchestrates numerous tragedies, including the Eastrail 177 train crash, to find this unbreakable individual, thus making him a villain.
FAQ 4: What is the significance of the color scheme in Glass?
The film utilizes specific colors associated with each character. David Dunn is linked to green (representing his connection to nature and justice), Mr. Glass to purple (symbolizing his intelligence and manipulation), and Kevin/The Horde to yellow (representing the chaotic and primal nature of The Beast). This visual language helps reinforce their individual identities and motivations.
FAQ 5: How does Glass challenge superhero movie tropes?
Unlike traditional superhero films, Glass deconstructs the genre by grounding the story in a more realistic and psychological setting. The characters’ powers are questioned and challenged, and the film explores the societal implications of superhuman abilities in a way that subverts typical superhero narratives. It poses the question: what if superheroes were treated as mentally ill?
FAQ 6: What is the role of Joseph Dunn and Casey Cooke in Glass?
Joseph Dunn, David’s son, and Casey Cooke, Kevin’s former caretaker, both play crucial supporting roles. Joseph is David’s confidant and helps him track down The Horde, while Casey maintains a connection to Kevin and tries to prevent The Beast from taking over. They ultimately become instrumental in exposing the truth about the organization after the main characters’ deaths.
FAQ 7: What is the significance of the clover tattoo seen in Glass?
The clover tattoo represents the secret organization dedicated to suppressing superhumans. It signifies their commitment to maintaining order and preventing societal upheaval by eliminating individuals with extraordinary abilities. The tattoo is worn by members of the organization, including Dr. Staple and her team.
FAQ 8: How does Glass comment on mental health?
While the film portrays characters with mental health challenges, it also raises questions about the diagnostic criteria used to define “normal” and “abnormal.” It suggests that extraordinary abilities might be misdiagnosed as mental illness, and that society might be quick to label individuals who deviate from the norm. However, it is important to note that the depiction of DID in Split and Glass has been criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
FAQ 9: Why does David Dunn drown in a puddle?
David Dunn’s weakness is water, a vulnerability established in Unbreakable. The organization exploits this weakness, holding him down in a puddle until he drowns. This highlights the organization’s ruthlessness and their knowledge of the heroes’ vulnerabilities.
FAQ 10: What is the ending of Glass trying to convey?
The ending of Glass, despite the tragic deaths of the main characters, suggests a message of hope and empowerment. The leaked footage exposes the existence of superhumans to the world, potentially inspiring others to embrace their own unique abilities and challenge the limitations imposed by society.
FAQ 11: What is the significance of the name “Glass” for Elijah Price?
The name “Glass” is a literal representation of Elijah Price’s condition, osteogenesis imperfecta, which makes his bones extremely fragile, like glass. It also symbolizes his fragility in other ways, such as his emotional vulnerability and his susceptibility to manipulation.
FAQ 12: Was there supposed to be a sequel to Glass?
While M. Night Shyamalan has expressed interest in exploring other stories within the Unbreakable universe, there are currently no plans for a direct sequel to Glass. The film was conceived as the conclusion to the Eastrail 177 Trilogy, bringing the stories of David Dunn, Mr. Glass, and Kevin Wendell Crumb to a definitive end.