You're free to speculate as you wish about the philosophical and allegorical meaning of the filmโand such speculation is one indication that it has succeeded in gripping the audience at a deep levelโbut I don't want to spell out a verbal road map for 2001 that every viewer will feel obligated to pursue or else fear he's missed the point.
Stanley KubrickIโve never been certain whether the moral of the Icarus story should only be, as is generally accepted, โdonโt try to fly too high,โ or whether it might also be thought of as โforget the wax and feathers, and do a better job on the wings.
Stanley Kubrick