Through analysis of the movie and the book from which it was based on (Body Snatchers, Jack Finney) many people have come up with different interpretations of what the theme of the movie was. McCarthyism, communism, and the ideas of conformity and central thinking are all among the speculated themes. It is my belief that all of these themes come together in a fashion that refutes 1950s ideology.

One of the most fervently believed themes is that the movie is a metaphor or allusion to communism. Communism is a system of government where the central government basically controls everything. From business, to a work-man’s wages, to obviously the laws that govern society. The ideal was that everybody would be equal. Equal in work wage

If you look at communism itself that makes sense without even the need of the use of basic logic. This is because in communism if everyone is to be equal everyone must conform in some way to create this equality.

During McCarthyism it was the fear or thought, that anyone you knew, you neighbor, co-worker, boss, or even brother or sister could in fact be a communist. Just as either of those could be pod people in the movie.

In Santa Mira, the town in which the movie took place, people would suddenly start ranting about someone they have known for their whole lives not really being themselves. The supposed change is so subtle that only a close family member will notice it, and by then it is usually too late. This in a way was like McCarthyism. Joe McCarthy had everyone pointing fingers naming this person and that person communist or communist sympathizer.

Lastly, another strong belief was that the movie was that it dealt with the idea of conformity, and central thinking. One of the pod people’s known goals was to spread all over the world and unite themselves together as one unit. Everyone once they became a pod person though outwardly appeared the same became a part or unit within this central system. These new pod people appeared to be the same person that you knew but all the pod people themselves acted somewhat the same, lacking substance, individ

Some topics in this essay:
Joe McCarthy, Jack Finney, Santa Mira, Steve Finney, American Dream, Dr Benell, Soviet Union, pod people, Body Snatchers, pod person, 1950s ideology, body snatchers, Don Seigel, Invasion Body, invasion body snatchers, idea conformity, conformity central, represent communism, system government, refute 1950s, central thinking, communism system government, conformity central thinking,