Well, this is my first story for Titanic. It's kind of like an analysis on the shift in meanings of the famous necklace. I hope it doesn't come off too boring or anything.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any rights to the film or actual ship. Writing this was just for fun.
Part 1: Cold Possession
The Heart of the Ocean: one of the rarest gems to ever be seen in 1912. Although the cuts of the heart and its facets were created by man, its deep blue hue reflected an endless sea. Many would say it reflected a woman's dreams or the secrets she harbored. Any first class woman in 1912 would give up all of her precious jewels and gems in order to own the Heart of the Ocean and wear its ethereal aura. If diamonds were a girl's best friend, then the Heart of the Ocean was a dream come true.
However, Rose Dewitt Bukator did not see that meaning in the necklace. During her time on the Titanic and afterward, the necklace went through a series of different meanings, none of which held love for her fiancé, Caledon Hockley.
Rose, her mother, Ruth, Cal, his lackey, and Trudy were traveling aboard the luxury liner to America for the wedding and their new life. Rose was not happy with the arrangement whatsoever and with her high class social life in general. In her perspective, all of the excessive eloquence was a disguise that cleverly hid an oppressive prison. The bars of the prison cell –the events, the mindless chatter, the attitudes, the jewelry, the constricting wardrobe- were closing in on her, and their claustrophobic grasp was becoming too much.
And it did. After another monotonous dinner, Rose attempted to end it all. No one would notice a small splash against Titanic's grand scale. However, a third class gentleman by the name of Jack Dawson pulled her away from her dark decision.
After the ordeal, Rose changed into her night gown and prepared to turn in for the night at sea. As she fiddled with her fiery curls, thoughts of her suicide attempt and her unlikely hero played through her mind. Before she could sort out all of the details, Cal stepped into her room.
"I know you've been melancholy, and I don't pretend to know why," Cal said as he walked to Rose's side. From behind his back, he pulled out an eloquent velvet jewelry box. "I intended to save this until the engagement gala next week; but I thought tonight, perhaps as a reminder of my feelings for you."
What piece of jewelry could possibly represent his "love" for me more than his engagement ring? Rose mentally asked herself. Cal's ring was exquisite, but it felt like it was welded to her ring finger.
Slowly, she opened the velvet box to reveal a large, grand gem stone cute into a heart shape. It dangled from a chain that was clearly composed of glittering diamonds. The stone was so beautiful it seemed like the lights in the room focused on it to create an illuminated aura around it.
"My God…. Is it…."
"Diamond," Cal finished for her. "Yes, it is. It was worn by King Louis the Sixteenth." He gently placed the necklace around her neck. It rested against her pale skin, standing out in its glory. As he latched the clasp, it felt like he was locking a chain around her neck. "They call it Le Coeur de la Mer, The-"
"The Heart of the Ocean," Rose interjected. She wanted him to know that she did possess knowledge, unlike the common belief that certain first class men had. "It's overwhelming."
Overwhelming was the safest term she could use. She was not overwhelmed by Cal's romantic meaning behind it or by its deep cerulean beauty. The necklace was another chain to tie her to him as a possession, another bauble to show the world who she belonged to in their hierarchy. For her, the heart did not symbolize a loving relationship, but as the decorative seal for her fate.
"It's for royalty, and we are royalty, Rose," Cal continued.
"We are royalty?" She thought as she blankly stared into the mirror. To the outside world we may appear in that manner. In reality, you're the only "royal" one. While you're the king, I am stuck being your most prized possession instead of your equal.
Cal did not notice that Rose was deep in thought. "There's nothing I couldn't give you, and there's nothing I would deny you if you would not deny me. Open your heart to me, Rose."
I can't open my heart to you, Cal, because you have closed it off way before you gave me this one.
She gently placed her fingers on the rare diamond as she stared into her and Cal's reflections in the mirror. Cal thought she was admiring the expensive token of his love and was speechless over it. After all, he figured that Rose was not the type to squeal in delight over something smooth and shiny, but instead remain reserved. At least that is what he assumed.
The only things that Rose and the Heart of the Ocean currently had in common were beauty and a heart of ice. The stone felt cold under her fingertips, as cold as death because that was what her relationship with Cal and society felt like to her: death. The diamond chain felt like a snake that was slithering around her neck and tightening slowly.
How can something that is supposed to be so beautiful represent how my life is ending?