In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for The Departed, we talk about themes that help us understand the film.
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio – Trooper William “Billy” Costigan Jr.
- Matt Damon – Staff Sergeant Colin Sullivan
- Jack Nicholson – Frank Costello
- Mark Wahlberg – Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam
- Martin Sheen – Captain Oliver “Charlie” Queenan
- Ray Winstone – Arnold “Frenchie” French
- Vera Farmiga – Dr. Madolyn Madden
- Alec Baldwin – Captain George Ellerby
- Anthony Anderson – Trooper Brown
- Kevin Corrigan as Sean Costigan
- James Badge Dale as Trooper Barrigan
- David O’Hara as Patrick “Fitzy” Fitzgibbons
- Mark Rolston as Timothy Delahunt
- Robert Wahlberg as FBI Special Agent Frank Lazio
- Amenda Lynch as Carmen
- Kristen Dalton as Gwen
- Shay Duffin as Phil
- William Monohan – Writer
- Martin Scorsese – Director
The themes and meaning of The Departed
The deceptive nature of identity
A life of deception is unsustainable
The Departed is a compelling exploration of identity and the role deception plays in shaping it. Two of the main characters, Sullivan and Costigan, spend much of the film inhabiting identities that are not their own. This isn’t simply a case of adopting a false persona—it’s a complete departure from their true selves.
The central narrative thrust of the film involves Sullivan, a cop secretly working for the mob, and Costigan, a mob associate who’s actually an undercover cop. Their true identities are hidden beneath layers of deception and subterfuge, and they each live in constant fear of their true selves being revealed. This constant act of deception serves as a catalyst for an internal struggle within each character, as they grapple with the dissonance between their true selves and the identities they portray.
This theme of identity and deception extends beyond the two main characters. Virtually every character in The Departed is hiding something, whether it’s a secret alliance, an illicit relationship, or a hidden past. This pervasive atmosphere of deception underscores the film’s exploration of identity: in a world where everyone is lying about who they are, can anyone truly know themselves?
Interestingly, the film doesn’t provide a definitive answer to this question. Both Sullivan and Costigan meet tragic ends, suggesting that a life of deception is ultimately unsustainable. Yet, it’s unclear whether their deaths are the result of their false identities being revealed, or simply the inevitable consequence of the dangerous lives they lead. In either case, The Departed presents a grim view of identity, suggesting that our sense of self is often less stable and more susceptible to external influences than we might like to think.
The detrimental impact deception has on relationships
The intricate dance of identity and deception that Sullivan and Costigan engage in has profound implications on their relationships, particularly with Madolyn, the police psychiatrist who becomes entwined with both men. Their relationships with Madolyn are extensions of their false identities, further complicating their internal struggles and underscoring the destructive impact of their deceptions.
Sullivan, in his polished persona of a successful and ambitious detective, starts a relationship with Madolyn. Despite his apparent affection for her, their relationship is marred by his deception. He can never truly reveal his real self to her – the hardened criminal serving as a mole in the police force. This creates a chasm between them, a lack of genuine connection that manifests in their strained and ultimately doomed relationship.
Costigan, on the other hand, meets Madolyn as a patient, forced into sessions with her due to his “unstable” behavior—a facade to protect his undercover status. He, too, can’t reveal his true identity to her, leading to a relationship built on half-truths. However, in their interactions, glimpses of his true self shine through. His vulnerability, guilt, and desperation—the emotional toll of his deception—are laid bare in front of her. This shared understanding of pain and struggle forms a deep, albeit complicated, bond between them.
Interestingly, while both men lie to Madolyn, their reasons and the nature of their deceptions differ significantly. Sullivan lies to maintain his cover, to continue living his comfortable life undisturbed. His deception is rooted in self-preservation. Costigan, however, lies out of necessity, to protect his mission and himself. His deception is a burden, a source of emotional turmoil, rather than a protective shield.
In both relationships, Madolyn serves as a mirror, reflecting back the men’s false identities and the implications of their deceptions. With Sullivan, she reflects the emptiness of a relationship built on lies, where genuine connection is sacrificed for the sake of maintaining a facade. With Costigan, she reflects the destructive impact of living a lie, the emotional toll it takes on a person’s psyche.
How family influences our sense of identity
Costigan’s identity crisis in The Departed is significantly influenced by his familial ties to organized crime, particularly his relationship with his Uncle Jackie, a mob associate. His connection to the criminal world through his uncle forms the basis for his undercover assignment but also exacerbates his internal conflict as he navigates his dual identities.
Costigan’s family background is a mark of shame that he desperately wants to overcome. His aspiration to be a police officer is, in part, a bid to distance himself from his family’s criminal past. However, this same past becomes a tool for him to infiltrate Costello’s mob, thrusting him back into the world he wanted to escape. As he immerses himself in the criminal lifestyle, he’s constantly reminded of his Uncle Jackie and the path he had taken. This familial connection to the mob adds an extra layer of complexity to his identity crisis.
In his role as an undercover cop, Costigan is forced to adopt behaviors and attitudes that he associates with his Uncle Jackie and the criminal world he represents. This blurs the line between his real self and the identity he’s supposed to portray, leading to a deepening identity crisis. He’s torn between his loyalty to the police force and the uncomfortable familiarity of the criminal lifestyle he’s supposed to infiltrate.
As he delves deeper into his undercover role, Costigan grapples with the fear of becoming like his uncle. The more he embodies his criminal persona, the more he fears that he’s turning into the kind of man his Uncle Jackie was. This fear intensifies his identity crisis, as he struggles to hold onto his sense of self amidst the deception and duplicity.
The fine line between loyalty and betrayal
Another prominent theme in The Departed is the complex interplay between loyalty and betrayal. Loyalty, or the lack thereof, is a driving force behind many of the film’s most significant events. At the same time, betrayal is a constant threat, lurking in the shadows of every interaction.
The characters in the film are bound by intricate webs of loyalty. Sullivan is loyal to Costello, the mob boss who raised him, even as he serves as a mole within the police force. Costigan, meanwhile, remains loyal to his mission and his handlers within the police, even as he’s forced to commit criminal acts. These loyalties aren’t straightforward—they’re fraught with tension and internal conflict, and they’re constantly tested as the stakes rise.
At the same time, betrayal is a constant presence in the film. Characters betray each other, their own principles, and even themselves. This pervasive sense of betrayal amplifies the tension and uncertainty of the film, contributing to its overall atmosphere of paranoia and unease.
In The Departed, loyalty and betrayal are two sides of the same coin. The same bonds that inspire loyalty also create the potential for betrayal, and it’s often unclear until the very end who will betray whom, and why. This ambiguity adds a layer of complexity to the film’s portrayal of loyalty and betrayal, suggesting that these concepts are not as straightforward as they might seem.
How morality and corruption intersect
The Departed also explores the themes of morality and corruption, particularly how they intersect in the world of law enforcement. The film presents a grim view of the police force, depicting it as an institution riddled with corruption and moral compromise.
The character of Sullivan embodies this theme. Despite being a police officer—a role typically associated with upholding the law and maintaining moral order—he’s deeply corrupt, serving as a mole for mob boss Costello. His corruption isn’t a result of personal greed or ambition, but rather a misguided sense of loyalty to the man who helped raise him. This complicates our understanding of his character and challenges the clear-cut dichotomy between “good” and “evil.”
On the other hand, Costigan, an undercover cop within Costello’s gang, is forced to engage in criminal activities to maintain his cover. While his intentions are noble—bringing down the mob—his actions are morally questionable. This raises the question: to what extent can immoral actions be justified if they serve a greater good?
Even beyond these two characters, the film paints a picture of a world where corruption is the norm, rather than the exception. Everyone, from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest-level cops, seems to be involved in some form of corruption. This pervasive corruption blurs the line between the cops and the criminals, suggesting that the difference between them is not as clear as it might seem.
This exploration of morality and corruption forces the audience to confront uncomfortable questions about the nature of good and evil, and the lengths individuals and institutions will go to achieve their goals. It challenges the notion that morality is clear-cut and unambiguous, suggesting instead that it’s often a matter of perspective and circumstance. Through this, The Departed presents a nuanced and complex view of morality, one that reflects the messy, complicated nature of the real world.
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