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The movie Soul presents a thought-provoking take on the idea of a life’s purpose. Soul argues that pursuing one’s “purpose” no matter the cost can lead to someone missing out on living their life. Some people may see the movie as cautioning people against following their dreams, but that’s not the case. Instead, Soul argues that when one becomes too obsessed with their dreams, that obsession consumes their life.
In Soul, every soul begins their journey toward life on Earth in the “Great Before.” While here, each soul must find their “spark” (with the help of a mentor) by discovering an activity that sparks their interest. Joe Gardner, the main character of Soul, finds himself mistaken for a mentor and is told to work with soul number 22. 22 is an especially difficult soul who refuses to find her spark because she doesn’t want to go to Earth. However, after realizing that Joe does want to get back to Earth, 22 agrees to find her spark in order to give her “ticket” to him.
Through their adventures and 22’s newfound love for the little things in life, Joe and 22 realize that they don’t need a definitive purpose to be happy. Instead, Soul argues that life is not about fulfilling one’s purpose at all but finding joy in every minute of living.
The Lessons Joe Gardner Learns
Joe Gardner spends the bulk of the movie-obsessed with his dream of becoming a famous jazz musician. He believes that if he can just play one special gig, then his life will suddenly be what he wants it to be. Even after his death, all Joe can do is talk about jazz and his upcoming big shot. He tells 22 repeatedly that music is his purpose, which is why he needs to get back to Earth to play with the revered Dorothea Williams and fulfill his so-called destiny.
However, by the end of the movie, Joe comes to realize that he was wrong. In Soul, there are three main moments that guide Joe into rethinking his approach to life: 22’s time on Earth, Jerry’s critique of Joe’s obsession with his purpose, and Dorothea Williams’s allegory.
22’s Earthly Experiences
Due to a mishap with a soul transfer, 22 ends up in Joe’s body while he gets stuck in the body of Mittens, the therapy cat. It is not until 22 takes a literal walk in Joe’s shoes that Joe himself takes a moment to re-examine his perspective on life. 22’s unveiled appreciation for the act of living reminds Joe that life has more to offer than just a music gig.
22 finds herself charmed by the little moments she experiences while in Joe’s body. From eating cheesy pizza to having a maple seed fall perfectly in her hand, 22 is floored by the beauty of life. However, Joe brushes off 22’s adoration by telling her that the moments she enjoys are “just regular old living” (( Docter, Pete, director. Soul. Walt Disney Pictures, 2020. )). Joe trivializes 22’s experiences because his own obsession with music has blinded him from the seemingly minuscule yet joyous moments of life.
Nevertheless, while in Joe’s body, 22 finds her reason for living and discovers that she is ready to begin her own adventures on Earth. 22’s experiences show Joe that fulfillment can come from even the most minute moments, so long as one takes the time to enjoy them.
Jerry’s Critique
For the majority of the movie, Joe believes that the spark 22 needs to find is her purpose in life. However, after 22’s badge suddenly turns into a ticket to Earth, Jerry (the name for all leaders and counselors in the “Great Before”) informs Joe that “a spark isn’t a soul’s purpose” (( Docter, Pete, director. Soul. Walt Disney Pictures, 2020. )). Jerry continues to tell Joe that the “Great Before” doesn’t assign purposes, just personality traits, and then comments on how humans are too concerned with finding their purpose.
After hearing the truth behind the spark, Joe appears shaken before trying to brush off Jerry’s words. However, the fact that purposes are not preordained sticks with Joe for the rest of the movie. This truth guides Joe toward letting go of his obsession with musical success to enjoy the other aspects of his life fully. Joe would never have been able to let go of his obsessive dream without first understanding that people don’t have one “right” or “best” way to live.
Dorothea’s Allegory
The most life-altering moment in Soul comes not from 22, Jerry, or anyone else from the “Great Before.” Instead, Joe’s biggest lesson comes from the musician Dorothea Williams. After finally performing together at their gig, Joe asks Dorothea what’s going to happen next. Joe is visibly disappointed when she tells him that they’re just going to come back tomorrow and do the same thing. In response, Dorothea tells him:
“I heard this story about a fish, he swims up to an older fish and says:
‘I’m trying to find this thing they call the ocean.’ ‘The ocean?’ the older fish says, ‘That’s what you’re in right now.’ ‘This,’ says the young fish, ‘this is water. What I want is the ocean!'”
Dorothea Williams (( Docter, Pete, director. Soul. Walt Disney Pictures, 2020. ))
Upon hearing this, Joe learns that he needs to stop and recognize the good in his life as opposed to just always chasing after the next thing. Dorothea’s allegory argues that sometimes expectations don’t match reality. So if someone spends their entire life obsessed with unreachable expectations, they will miss out on appreciating all of the good in their life that they already have. Her story helps Joe finally put the lessons from 22’s experiences and Jerry’s critique together. In doing so, Joe sees that he’s been ignoring the joys in the act of living.
These lessons are finally acted upon at the very end of the movie when Joe is given another chance at life. Once Jerry asks Joe what he’s going to do with the rest of his time, Joe replies, “I’m not sure, but I do know I’m gonna live every minute of it” (( Docter, Pete, director. Soul. Walt Disney Pictures, 2020. )). Joe demonstrates that he now understands his expectations for life were getting in the way of his enjoyment of it, so he lets his unreachable standards go.
The Idea Of A Purpose In Today’s World
The movie Soul can be seen as a critique of society’s obsession with finding and cultivating a purpose. Soul argues that believing you have a purpose is perfectly fine until it consumes you. On the other hand, society today teaches people that fulfillment and joy come from material things or accomplishments. This idea is most clearly seen on social media, where influences tell people that they need “x, y, and z” in order to be considered a successful person.
Soul presents a different approach to life that is not based on things or accomplishments but the act of living itself. There are no set purposes or goals that someone needs to achieve in order to be happy. Taking the time to enjoy nature or spending time with loved ones can be fulfilling in and of itself. What Soul offers is a refreshing break from mainstream society that says we must fulfill a purpose in order for life to have value, arguing that life is already valuable—we just need to live it.
