In The Heart Of The Sea Omits Wild True Story Details About Owen Chase and Matthew Joy Following the Sinking

Ron Howard’s 2015 film, In the Heart of the Sea, depicts the harrowing true events surrounding the 1820 disaster of the whaling ship Essex. While the film delves into the story of survival following the vessel’s sinking by a massive sperm whale, it notably omits critical developments that ensue after the survivors are rescued. The movie’s notable cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, Cillian Murphy, and Benjamin Walker, who portray the crew caught in this life-or-death struggle. For those who withstand the initial shipwreck, their journey turns into a horrifying saga of survival that ultimately involves cannibalism, leaving lingering psychological scars from their maritime ordeal.

Among the crew members, the bond between Owen Chase (played by Hemsworth) and Matthew Joy (portrayed by Murphy) stands out. Their long-standing friendship, akin to brotherhood, began in childhood and deepened throughout their sailing experiences. Consequently, Joy’s tragic fate after sustaining a severe head injury impacts Chase profoundly. Nevertheless, the film concludes without fully exploring the aftermath of this bond and the profound shifts in Chase’s personal life following Joy’s death.

Owen Chase’s Marriage to Matthew Joy’s Widow, Nancy

Chase Married Nancy Joy Less Than a Year After His Wife Peggy’s Death

Another scene from In the Heart of the Sea

While recounting the tragedies experienced by the Essex’s survivors to Herman Melville, Thomas Nickerson fails to mention that Chase eventually remarried Matthew Joy’s widow, Nancy (as noted by the Nantucket Historical Association). The film concludes with a reunion between Chase and his first wife, Peggy, along with an introduction to their daughter. This aligns with the true events; however, the significant detail that Peggy passed away just years later before Chase wed Nancy Joy less than a year afterward is absent. This poignant turn in Chase’s life, marrying his deceased friend’s widow shortly after his own wife’s death, might not align with the uplifting narrative the filmmakers intended to portray.

This omitted detail underscores the profound and intertwined fates of the crew members following their traumatic experiences aboard the Essex. The personal losses and upheavals persisted well beyond their return to Nantucket. Tragically, Chase faced further heartache when Nancy Joy died shortly after giving birth to their daughter in 1833, a setback that deeply affected him.

Owen Chase Continued His Connection with Matthew Joy’s Brother, Reuben

Chase’s Ties to the Joy Family Endured Long After Their Deaths

Cillian Murphy as Matthew Joy in In the Heart of the Sea

Moreover, following the harrowing events portrayed in In the Heart of the Sea, Chase maintained a close affiliation with Matthew Joy’s family. Notably, after a period of mourning for Nancy, Chase continued his maritime pursuits and even sailed with Joy’s brother, Reuben. Years after Nancy’s untimely death, Chase commanded the Charles Carroll and encountered Reuben’s whaling ship, the Hero. Logs detail that their vessels sailed together for two months, illustrating that the bonds formed during their harrowing journey aboard the Essex continued long after.

Source: NHA

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