"Everyone deserves a great love story."
Love, Simon - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
The Ferris Wheel
The Ferris wheel symbolizes the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence, love, and the coming out experience. Simon himself states, "Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck on a ferris wheel. One minute I'm on top of the world, the next I'm at rock bottom." It represents the highs of his connection with Blue and the lows of his fear and blackmail. Ultimately, it becomes a place of optimistic culmination, a public space where Simon takes a brave stand and where he and Blue finally meet, representing the peak of his journey to self-acceptance and the beginning of their public love story.
The Ferris wheel is a recurring motif. Simon mentions it in his narration early in the film to describe his emotional state. The climax of the film takes place on the Ferris wheel at the winter carnival, where Simon publicly asks Blue to meet him. He rides it alone, round and round, in a vulnerable public display, before Bram joins him, revealing himself as Blue.
Email Pseudonyms: 'Jacques' and 'Blue'
The pseudonyms Simon ('Jacques') and his correspondent ('Blue') use symbolize the masks they wear and the safety of anonymity. It allows them to express their true feelings and identities without the risks associated with coming out in their real lives. 'Blue' can also be interpreted as representing the melancholy or sadness associated with being closeted, as well as the mystery surrounding his identity. For Simon, 'Jacques' might be a playful, more confident version of himself he wishes he could be openly.
These names are used exclusively in their email correspondence, which forms the narrative backbone of their relationship. The entire plot is driven by Simon's desire to attach a real face and name to 'Blue', effectively bridging the gap between his secret online life and his real-world existence. The mystery of Blue's identity is a central plot device, with Simon speculating it could be several different classmates.
Iced Coffee
Iced coffee represents the normalcy and routine of Simon's life before and after his coming out. It's a mundane, everyday detail that grounds his extraordinary journey in a relatable teenage experience. He describes his life with his friends as doing normal things like drinking "way too much iced coffee." The continuation of this routine at the end of the film signifies that despite the monumental changes in his life, the core of his friendships and his identity remains the same.
In the opening narration, Simon establishes his "totally perfectly normal life" by describing his daily routine with his friends, which includes getting iced coffee every morning before school. The film's final scene shows Simon picking up his friends and his new boyfriend, Bram, for their morning coffee run, bringing his journey full circle and reinforcing the theme that he is still the same person.
Philosophical Questions
What is the relationship between our private selves and our public personas?
The film deeply explores the tension between Simon's internal identity and the image he projects to the world. His anonymous emails with Blue represent a space where his private self can flourish without fear. The central conflict arises when this private world is threatened with public exposure. The film asks viewers to consider the parts of themselves they keep hidden and the courage it takes to integrate those private truths into their public lives. It posits that true happiness and fulfillment come from closing the gap between who we are and who we pretend to be.
Does everyone have a 'coming out' story?
While the film is explicitly about a gay teenager's coming out, it universalizes the experience. Simon's mother tells him he can finally "exhale," and director Greg Berlanti has said that everyone has a "coming out moment" where they choose to announce their true selves to the world, regardless of whether it relates to sexuality. The film suggests that the process of revealing a profound, hidden truth about oneself is a universal human journey, making Simon's specific story a metaphor for any act of self-revelation and the quest for authenticity.
Who has the right to tell someone's story?
The act of Martin outing Simon is presented as a profound ethical violation. Simon's furious reaction—"I'm supposed to be the one that decides!"—is the film's moral centerpiece on this issue. It raises the philosophical question of autonomy and ownership over one's own narrative. The film argues unequivocally that personal truths, especially those concerning identity, belong to the individual and that to reveal them without consent is to steal something fundamental.
Core Meaning
At its core, "Love, Simon" is a universal story about the terrifying and liberating journey of self-acceptance and the courage it takes to announce who you are to the world. Director Greg Berlanti aimed to create a heartfelt, coming-of-age story that places a gay protagonist at the center of a mainstream romantic comedy, a genre historically dominated by heterosexual narratives. The film's primary message is that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, deserves a great love story and the chance to be their authentic self. It explores the complexities of identity, the fear of judgment, and the profound importance of acceptance from friends, family, and oneself. The film champions the idea that while coming out can be an intensely personal and frightening experience, it is also a vital step towards living a full and honest life.