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Planet of the Apes: Why Caesar's Son Was Called "Blue Eyes"
On the surface, it appears easy to pinpoint the meaning behind the name of Caesar's firstborn son in Planet Of The Apes trilogy— Blue Eyes. His eyes are the color blue, which is the obvious reason for the naming convention. However, there is a significance to those eyes, and the decision to name him "Blue Eyes" runs deeper than merely his physical appearance.
After Caesar led his clan of medically enhanced apes out of the animal shelter and toward freedom in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, he took on the head leadership role for the apes. He continued to protect them from humans while equipping them with the necessary tools, intellect, and forms of communication to keep his family alive and thriving. In Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, those qualities are instilled in Caesar's son and potential successor— Blue Eyes.
Blue- and green-colored eyes are more than just a cute physical attribute in this prequel trilogy of Planet Of The Apes. These brighter eye colors are a signifier of the genetic enhancement that makes the apes so intelligent. These genetic enhancements run through the blood of Caesar, his entire family, and most of his tribe. Unlike the other apes whose blue and green eyes were the result of medical experiments, however, Blue Eyes came by his naturally. The history and meaning of this trait are the reason for Blue Eyes' name.
Why Caesar's Son's Nickname Wasn't Necessarily Affectionate
In Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Caesar's mother is the first successful test subject in a series of medical trials for an experimental Alzheimer's treatment. This treatment, ALZ-112, enhances the mental capacity of his mother and allows her to learn and adapt to human processes at an alarming rate. The side effect is a lightening of eye color that hues blue-green on a spectrum. This manifestation leads to the scientists naming her Bright Eyes, much like her grandson Blue Eyes.
Caesar is born to Bright Eyes during these test trials and is passed these enhancements naturally, through genetics. This allows Caesar to learn, adapt and lead with such exceeding accomplishment. Blue Eyes is the child of Caesar and Cornelia, a female ape that had been dosed with the ALZ-113 virus that led to the Simian Flu. Cornelia received the same enhancements from a second trial drug that Caesar exposed every shelter ape to before their escape. The enhancements from both Caesar and Cornelia would have passed to Blue Eyes, thus giving him his high intelligence and blue eye color.
Blue Eyes is named after the genetic enhancement that drives his family forward in life. He is named after his grandmother, the ape that first received ALZ-112 and changed the world forever. Blue Eyes' name is a reminder of the long path that his tribe has walked to officially reach a Planet Of The Apes.
