Tarot Cards in Eyes Wide Shut and Their Meaning #stanleykubrick #eyeswideshut

Ajouté : 2026-06-06

[00:00:00]Today, we're going to analyze Eyes Wide Shut and look at some strange connections I found that I've never heard anyone else talk about. So, let's get into it.

[00:00:13]Hey, hello, and welcome to my channel.

[00:00:16]And as the title says, today we're going to look at the tarot card connections I think I found in Eyes Wide Shut because I think several characters in this film are actually linked to specific cards in the tarot deck, and I think I know the reason why.

[00:00:36]But, please understand, I'm not suggesting that Stanley Kubrick believed in fortune-telling or believed in tarot cards as divination because I don't think he did. I think it's a safe bet that he did not. But, for my analysis here, I'm curious if tarot imagery and themes have been used in Eyes Wide Shut, and I think it definitely has, and I will try to prove that point today.

[00:01:09]So, let's very briefly describe what tarot cards are and a bit of their history.

[00:01:16]Tarot are a set of playing cards used for fortune-telling or divination, but it's not like a regular deck with 52 cards. The tarot deck has 78 cards, but that's generally divided into two different groups. 22 cards that are called the major arcana that represent significant archetypes, karmic lessons, or spiritual themes.

[00:01:45]These aren't just normal playing cards, and it's these that we will be more concerned with.

[00:01:51]Though there are 56 other cards called minor arcana. The earliest tarot decks started appearing in Europe in the 1400s, though they looked quite different from modern decks.

[00:02:04]But for this video, we will be using the Rider-Waite deck, first published in 1909, because of its simple but meaningful imagery, full of symbolism.

[00:02:18]Now, our character of Redcloak is the first and most obvious character in Eyes Wide Shut that seems to be connected to at least a few different tarot cards.

[00:02:31]So, let's take a look at this card called the Hierophant in the tarot.

[00:02:37]And this card represents an archetype of tradition, spiritual wisdom, or organized religion and rituals.

[00:02:48]This seems to fit Redcloak very well, since he is definitely involved in rituals, and it certainly seems to be for some organized spiritual purpose.

[00:02:59]And if you draw this card in a tarot reading, it could mean that you are seeking spiritual guidance from a formal mentor. So, that's interesting.

[00:03:11]Also notice in the card that the Hierophant is wearing a red robe and carries a staff, just like Redcloak does, and also has two attendants on either side, again, the same as Redcloak.

[00:03:28]Now, look to card number 11. This card is Justice, holding the scales of justice and the sword that can cut through illusions.

[00:03:40]But notice again, this figure is wearing red robes and seated on a throne, apparently, just as Redcloak is seated on a throne. Now, this card represents cause and effect or accountability and reminds you to act with integrity.

[00:04:00]Something that links to the scene where Bill is found out since he sort of scammed his way into the party, but he doesn't have the second password if there even is one.

[00:04:13]Also, notice the two pillars on either side of the figure because we will see that again.

[00:04:21]Now, at the mansion party, I think Red Cloak is obviously in charge. He's the authority figure here, which leads into the next tarot card, which is the Emperor card in the tarot deck.

[00:04:36]This card symbolizes ultimate authority and structure, a father figure even. So, this archetype also fits with Red Cloak, but please notice the throne the Emperor is sitting on, which seems to be decorated with ram's heads or a horned animal, most prominently on the handrests.

[00:05:01]And look at the throne of Red Cloak. I actually did a whole video about that, which I'll link below, but notice the armrests because these are lion's heads there. It's not a ram's head, but it's still a similar throne.

[00:05:18]And also, with the red robes again.

[00:05:22]The next card, I suppose, might seem obvious, and that is card number one, the Magician.

[00:05:30]And this card represents manifestation and willpower and to actually manifest your will into physical reality, which is something I think Red Cloak literally does at this party in several places. For instance, right here, notice the masks behind him are fairly plain, nothing too ornate or crazy.

[00:05:57]But a moment later, these very elaborate masks are behind Red Cloak, just manifested out of nowhere.

[00:06:07]I've said before I think Red Cloak is a powerful magician and I think he is doing ritual magic, partly through something called a force of will, which is exactly what this card represents.

[00:06:22]There are many strange things happening at this party, but a magician is most definitely involved.

[00:06:31]I thought I should also mention these two cards, the sun card and the moon card. Since at the party, we will see masks with both a sun and a moon on it.

[00:06:46]See here a mask with the rays of the sun very prominently up front next to a plague doctor mask.

[00:06:56]But the card itself is probably the most positive one in the tarot deck, representing joy and optimism.

[00:07:05]But since it is next to a plague doctor, it is definitely a strange placement.

[00:07:12]And back in that room with the ladies on a table, there is a very distinctive crescent moon-shaped mask, which also shows up in the magic circle. And there is also a moon tarot card. This is the card of intuition, the subconscious, and illusion. And since I think there is a lot of illusion at this party, that definitely fits.

[00:07:41]And the very first shot in the film shows Alice situated in between two columns or pillars, which I think is significant. And these are rather symbolic as thresholds or entrances where an initiate might enter in.

[00:08:01]They are known also in Freemasonry and they aren't the only pillars in Eyes Wide Shut.

[00:08:09]But look at this card, the High Priestess, and one of the first things you notice are two pillars on either side with a B and a J on them, which means Boaz and Jachin, which were the grand pillars that stood on the porch of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

[00:08:31]But this card represents the subconscious mind and hidden knowledge, which is interesting if it's associated with Alice.

[00:08:41]Does she have hidden knowledge? Maybe. I actually think she's one of the more mysterious characters in Eyes Wide Shut.

[00:08:52]And that, of course, brings us to a card actually numbered zero, and that is the Fool card. And yes, I'm going to say I associate this card with Dr. Bill. Why?

[00:09:06]Well, as you can see, our young fool is setting out on a journey with a free spirit.

[00:09:13]But look what's in front of him, a cliff's edge. So, he may unknowingly be walking into danger.

[00:09:21]And when Bill finds out about a party from his friend Nick Nightingale, he may also not realize that the situation he is walking into is actually dangerous.

[00:09:33]Bill may enter the mansion with a spirit of adventure, but like the fool of the tarot, he's unknowingly stumbled into an ominous situation when he comes face-to-face with Red Cloak.

[00:09:47]But, this card is about stepping forward without fear.

[00:09:52]And to some extent, I guess Dr. Bill did that.

[00:09:57]And side note, I happened to take a look at this shot of the magic circle, and I decided to count the number of people around the outside, and I actually counted 76 people. Though, it's a bit hard to see all of them.

[00:10:15]And there definitely could be some standing out of frame that I can't see.

[00:10:20]But, if you add Dr. Bill and Red Cloak to the number of people around the magic circle, you get 78, which is the same as the number of tarot cards. But, I didn't add in those two attendants wearing the blue robes, so it's not a perfect count.

[00:10:40]So, again, to sum up, I am not suggesting that Stanley Kubrick actually believed in tarot cards for fortune-telling purposes, but I do think that the archetypes and meanings of some cards have been woven into some of the characters, like Red Cloak, being linked to several different cards, like the Magician card, when he seems to actually be a high-level magician.

[00:11:11]And with the Alice character, we saw her in the very first shot between two pillars, perhaps a link to occult or esoteric knowledge, since some secretive groups are known to use pillars. And that links to the High Priestess card of the Tarot.

[00:11:33]Actually, I found this interesting shot of Bill at the mansion ritual right before the circle closes around him, literally framed between two pillars, an image often seen in Tarot. But actually, I think another card best suits Bill, since if he is an unwitting initiate into this group, then he may very well be the real fool here.

[00:12:04]Well, that's my new video about the Tarot cards and characters they may represent in Eyes Wide Shut. I hope you liked it. And while you're here, please subscribe. And it always helps if you like and share the video and click that hype button if you're on the mobile app.

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[00:12:40]Thank you for spending time with me and have a great day.