Crashing Waves (Symbol)
At the opening of the film, we see waves crashing against a cement barrier in Odessa. This symbolizes the struggle of the Russian people against the seemingly intractable Tsarist regime. The waves cannot break the rocks, but the water indicates that the tide is turning against the Tsar.
Vakulinchuk's Body (Allegory)
Vakulinchuk is presented as a noble martyr, the person whose initiative was necessary to start the revolt that his fellows ultimately finish. This is directly analogous to Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik leader who had died recently when the film went into production. Vakulinchuk’s body is even reposed in public in a very similar manner to Lenin’s body.
Food (Motif)
Food and the exchange of food is the method Eisenstein uses most frequently to illustrate the nature of the relationship between characters. The rotten food shows how little the officers care about the sailors. In contrast, the sharing of food from the storeroom and the transport of food supplies from Odessa to the ship represent solidarity between the sailors and townspeople.
Sleeping Sailors (Symbol)
The sailors begin the film asleep below decks. This is meant to symbolize that the sailors are not yet radicalized and involved in the revolution; they are “asleep” to the problems of Russia and need to be “awakened” by Vakulinchuk so that the mutiny can begin in earnest.
Arguing Crowd (Allegory)
The public debates among the people of Odessa at the pier are meant to represent the debates and disagreements which had to be ironed out among Russians before revolution could be viable. We see all sorts of disagreements and alternate viewpoints, as well as some attempts to distract and disrupt (the man who yells invective against Jews) before everyone more or less agrees on a course of action. It also took much debate before the Russian revolutions could get under way, including a major ideological split between communist factions in 1903. It took a united front behind Lenin and the Bolsheviks for revolution to finally succeed.
