San Andreas Essay Questions

What is significant about Daniel taking Blake to college?

Daniel taking Blake north to start college is significant because it represents another way in which he is displacing Ray as Blake's father figure. Ray views driving his daughter up the West Coast to drop her off at university in Washington as an opportunity to bond with her before she embarks on a major life change. However, the plan changes when Ray's department chief calls him away to assist in rescues in Nevada following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that destroys the Hoover Dam. Daniel offers to take her in Ray's place—an offer Ray and Blake can't argue against, but one that makes them both uncomfortable. During the flight, Daniel senses Blake's discomfort and assures her he doesn't intend to impede her relationship with her father. However, his true disconnection from her and indifference to her well-being is revealed when he leaves her trapped in his car.

What is ironic about Dr. Hayes's and Dr. Kim's excitement over detecting seismic activity at the Hoover Dam?

The presence of seismic activity at the Hoover Dam excites Dr. Hayes and Dr. Kim because it confirms that their seismological instruments are accurately predicting earthquakes. The scientists are pleased because they are getting closer to being able to predict earthquakes before they strike—an advancement that has the potential to save many lives. But the seismologists' celebrations are cut short by a 7.1-magnitude quake that destroys the dam while they are confirming oscillation readings. In this instance of situational irony, the effort to develop technology that will save lives leads to Dr. Kim dying in the field, as their technology wasn't yet sophisticated enough to warn them to stay away from the dam.

What is the significance of Blake's necklaces?

The two necklaces Blake wears are significant because they are a symbol of her desire to memorialize her sister, Mallory. The question of the necklaces arises midway through the film when Ben asks why she wears duplicates. Blake explains that one belonged to her sister, who died in a rafting accident. Ben realizes he has accidentally touched upon what is likely a sore subject, but Blake is quick to reassure him that she doesn't mind discussing it. Unlike her father, who refuses to talk about his grief, Blake "isn't hiding anything" by openly displaying the necklaces in a way that might invite conversation. Blake's two necklaces are significant because they express her effort to remember her sister rather than pretend as though nothing happened. This approach contrasts with Ray's self-destructive denial impulse, which burdens him and keeps him emotionally distant from his family.

Why is it significant that Daniel dies in the way he does?

When a giant container ship is upended by a tsunami, Daniel stands alone on the Golden Gate Bridge. He looks up as a shipping container flattens him before wiping out the rest of the bridge. In this scene, Daniel dies alone; simultaneously, Ray and Emma reconcile their marital differences and Blake, Ollie, and Ben work together to keep one another alive. The contrast between Daniel's fate and those of the characters who work together is significant because it speaks to the major theme of cooperation. As someone who chooses to abandon Blake and fend for himself, Daniel dies a shameful death while the other main characters end the film not only having survived extreme adversity but having been brought closer together.

What role does ingenuity play in San Andreas?

As one of the film's major themes, ingenuity—the quality of being inventive and clever—plays a significant role in San Andreas. The theme first arises with the scenes depicting Dr. Hayes and Dr. Kim confirming that their early warning earthquake technology is functioning correctly. With their findings, they have identified previously unknown tectonic fault lines and are better equipped to warn the public of impending natural disasters. Peyton also builds on the theme of ingenuity when Dr. Hayes asks for the help of media students to hack into the major American news networks to get out a message to the public. Meanwhile, Blake uses ingenuity to rig up a means of phoning her father in his helicopter when the cell phone towers aren't functioning. Ray himself relies on ingenuity learned throughout his career as a military serviceman and air rescue worker. Without ingenuity, the characters in the film would likely not survive.