Molly Brown: Hey, who thought of the name Titanic? Was it you, Bruce?
J. Bruce Ismay: Yes, actually. I wanted to convey sheer size. And size means stability, luxury, and above all, strength.
Rose: Do you know of Dr. Freud, Mr. lsmay? His ideas about the male preoccupation with size might be of particular interest to you.
(Molly and Andrews almost laugh out loud)
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote comes from the movie ‘Titanic’. The movie came out in 1997 and has since been re-released a few times when new technology would come out (3D, 4K). Titanic (1997) was produced by Paramount Pictures & 20th Century Fox.
- Movie: Titanic (1997)
- Production: Paramount Pictures (& 20th Century Fox)
Why we collected this quote
We love this because it shows Rose is smart, witty, and likes to challenge the men who think they know everything.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
J. Bruce Ismay is bragging about how the “size” of the Titanic means stability and strength. Rose makes a smart joke about Dr. Freud and “male preoccupation with size,” which is her way of calling Ismay’s ego a bit too big!
Fun facts & Trivia
This is an anachronism (a historical timing error). While Freud was active in 1912, his theories on “size preoccupation” and phallic symbols didn’t become popular or widely discussed in general society until about 1920.
Ismay was the head of the company that built the ship. The name “Titanic” comes from the Titans of Greek mythology, who were known for being huge and powerful.
