Can we talk about the ending of 'Cast Away' where he just goes home

I visited the actual beach in Fiji where they filmed the island scenes last month, and the tour guide pointed out how close they were to the mainland. It got me thinking about Wilson drifting off and Chuck just accepting it. Would the ending have felt more true if he had actually tried to save Wilson instead of letting him go?

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kelly_henderson831mo agoMost Upvoted

Wilson floating away always makes me tear up. My dad actually lost his wedding ring fishing off the coast of Maine and just watched it sink into the murky water without reaching for it. He told me later that sometimes you have to let things go because fighting it will only drag you under with them. That always stuck with me when I watch Chuck let Wilson drift away. Maybe the real lesson is about knowing when to stop struggling. The ending works because it shows he finally learned that lesson.