Planet of the Apes as allegory for slavery and racial conflict

Planet of the Apes is a very moving rendition of theme of brutality of slavery and the damaging consequences of the man's self-destruction. Particularly the last scene where the statue of liberty is shown is very heart rending and neatly depicts the height of mans madness who is the only creature on the planet to destroy himself. Unlike other science fiction movies this film is rich in social implications. Overall the movie is about the voyage of astronauts who travel in space exploring the cosmos. They end up on a strange planet inhabited by apes. The three astronauts think that they are some 300 light years away from earth but only later on in the last scene it is revealed that they are back on mother earth but to our utter shock and disbelief the planet is not the same anymore. Uncontrolled selfish warfare has led to the total destruction of mankind on earth. This film has more significance especially in the nuclear world where man is threatening his own extermination.

Group relationships are bought to the fore in this movie, which has rich symbolic import. In particular the relationship between blacks and whites in the pre-civil revolution days are symbolically portrayed. The horrific episodes of slavery are neatly illustrated in this movie. In particular the scene where Heston and the fellow human beings are chased and captured by the apes parallels the suffering of the blacks in the plantations owned by the whites. The oppressive actions of the whites against the blacks and the brutal nature of slavery are neatly depicted. This movie is really a very moving depiction of the pitiable plight of the blacks during the era of slavery. Heston's attempt to free himself from the apes is a reminder of the civil rights movement, which initiated the struggle for freedom from slavery and discrimination.