It’s a typical October afternoon in picturesque New York City. You are on wall street waiting to see how your investments turned out. The closing bell rings and immediately, panic ensues. The day that everyone thought was impossible happened: the stock market crash. For millions of Americans this seemed like the end of the road. Unfortunately, the market nor economic conditions wouldn’t get any better as now, the Great Depression was in full spring. As roughly a quarter of Americans were now out of work, people lost their identities. One of these people was a boxer named James J. Braddock. Before the depression, Braddock was widely regarded as the next big thing for the sport. However, Braddock’s career fell off a cliff after the crash as he …show more content…
One of the main themes of Cinderella Man is overcoming adversity. Facing some of the most challenging obstacles, both literally and figuratively, Braddock always found a way to weather the storm and wind up on top. This is due to his determination which is exemplified in the following quote; “I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.” This quote is a testament to the working ethic of Braddock and his determination to make sure that both him and his family turn out O.K. Another quote which speaks to Braddock overcoming adversary explains how he doesn’t take this opportunity for granted. “You think you're telling me something? Like, what, boxing is dangerous, something like that? You don't think working triple shifts and at night on a scaffold isn't just as likely to get a man killed? What about all those guys who died last week living in cardboard shacks to save on rent money just to feed their family, 'cause guys like you have not quite figured out a way yet to make money off of watching that guy die? But in my profession - and it is my profession - I'm a little more fortunate.” This quote explains how he understands the magnitude of his comeback and that he is embracing it. Another theme which is prominent in Cinderella Man is the trying times of the Great Depression. The Depression leaves a giant footprint on the entire film, dictating the entire storyline. This is especially noticeable during the beginning of the movie when Braddock is begging for money to his former boxing associates. “The thing is I can't afford to pay the heat and I had send my kids to live with relatives, they keep cutting shifts down at the dock, you just don't get picked every day, I sold everything I got to anybody who would buy, I went on public assistance at the relief office, they gave
Cinderella Man is the story of James J. Braddock, a struggling boxer who was faced with many hardships during the great depression, and learned to overcome these obstacles to provide for his family. Cinderella Man illustrates the journey of how James Braddock became a hero for his family. His quest is driven solely by his will to provide for his family. The Hero’s Quest can be categorized into 3 steps: Departure, Initiation, and Return.
Or, the use of the body can suggest that life was tough during the Great Depression. For example, when Braddock was comforting his son after he was caught stealing, the viewers can get a good reference of people's well being from the surroundings. People were laying sleeping on streets and most of them had very poor posture or were slouching. It is simple to comprehend that they are miserable. In addition, in the scene when Braddock was in line for relief money, the people around him had very grim expressions. Their shoulders were sagged and their heads were down. Body language of the surrounding people make the Cinderella Man setting look like real life
The mold of the heroic template is evident throughout various types of media. Within movies, novels, and poems the hero’s journey is present. Of course, not every piece of literature or movie follows the cycle. However, the idea of the monomyth arose from Joseph Campbell. He wrote his own book, The Hero of a Thousand Faces, within his writing he describes that heroes’ follow the same basic procedure throughout their quest(s). This is where the idea of the hero monomyth arose. In Michael Lewis’s novel, The Blind Side, he portrays “The heroic monomyth.” The Blind Side consists of the basic characters and archetypes that accurately reflect the heroic template.
“The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us…The hero journey is a symbol that binds …. (Phil Cousineau).” Mattie Ross learns this in True Grit, by Charles Portis, when she experiences the death of her father. She says, ”…Tom Chaney shot my father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas and robbed him of his life and his horses and $150 in cash money plus two California gold pieces that he carried in his trouser band(11)”. Frank Ross, Matties’ father, who was shot to death, by a man named, Tom Chaney. Mattie Ross is just 14 years old in the 1870’s, she states, “Nothing is free in this world except the grace of god, you must pay for everything.(pg?)” Personal growth often comes at a great expense. She is in beginning of the separation stage in a hero’s journey, which consists of the call and threshold. Harris and Thompson define the call as, “…invites the initiate into the adventure, offers her the opportunity to face the unknown, an imbalance or injustice in her life”(50). Her father getting killed and Mattie getting vengeance, is her invite. This is followed by, the threshold, known as the jumping off point. She states, “We hit the river running…we came out some little ways down the river.”(107) She has now made it into the Choctaw Nation to assist in the pursuit, in the unknown world, “a different world full of dangers and challenges (Harris and Thompson 50)”. Next, is the initiation and transformation then, the return to the known world. You can see, Mattie encounters her call when her father was killed.
Today, it is seen that during the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt had led America out of the economic disparity throughout his bold actions and promises that fueled the hearts of numerous Americans. However, President Roosevelt was not the only figure to be considered as the ‘hero’ that swept the country out of its misery. There were several people who helped contribute to the change in America’s culture and to the improvement in society. During the Great Depression, two notorious, lovestruck criminals, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, had lasting impacts on much of the nation’s law enforcement, society’s values, and the growth levels of entertainment and economy. Together, the couple led several Americans out of the Great Depression
Essential to overcoming adversity is the ability to cause change in yourself and others. In the book, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Seth has to learn to be more careful. This helps him to be a hero because he gets less reckless. Ultimately, Brandon mull teaches us that courage can make you do great things no matter what’s in your way.
..., and many times in literature such as in Golden Boy, both the play and movie, athletes perform for the hope to be recognized by their coach. The drive for an athlete to succeed is affected by the player’s relationship with their coach. For Rosie, Peter was a handsome coach she was attracted to, but wasn’t always there when she needed him. Because Rosie was looking for more attention, she invested herself into Luther who became a second “coach” and took his advice to improve her skills. In Golden Boy, Joe Bonaparte proved he could fight having no prior experience as a professional boxer. Joe had the motivation and the will-power to gain attention from the doubtful Tom Moody and proved himself a true fighter knocking a man dead. Rosie and Joe both wanted a chance to succeed in their athletic careers and their relationships with their coaches enhanced the opportunity.
I have done my essay on James Jim Braddock, (“Cinderella Man”). A American Boxer born and raised in New York City NY. He died on November 29 1974, he was 69 years old. James had immigrant parents, Joseph, Elizabeth Braddock. James Jim Braddock was a famous boxer from the 1930’s. Braddock grew up in a family with five brothers, and two sisters. He also had lived threw a very hard time, called the Great Depression. Braddock like most kids loved to play marbles, baseball, and hanging out at the old swimming hole. James’s nickname was Cinderella man. He earned his nickname from his seemingly fairytale like rise from a poor fighter to a heavyweight champion. Braddock was born and raised in New York City. Braddock
James J. Braddock possesses an enticing story of overcoming obstacles and denying defeat. Braddock was an amateur boxer before 1929 and was fairly successful. After the Stock Market Crash his career took a downturn. He lost many matches and crushed his right hand. Later, desperate for money, he participates in another match. Surprisingly he wins and becomes next in line to fight the heavyweight champion Max Baer. In a great upset he defeats the defending heavyweight champion. James Braddock’s story is told in the film: The Cinderella Man. The Cinderella Man refrains from adding inaccurate thematic elements and accurately portrays James J. Braddock’s life, his boxing career, and the Great Depression.
The documentary, “Unforgivable Blackness” directed by Ken Burns casts light on the extraordinary life story of legendary boxer Jack Johnson. The documentary is about the barriers Jack Johnson had to overcome to satisfy his hunger for becoming the best and living “The American Dream.” Johnson had humble beginnings in Galveston, Texas and it was in those beginnings that glimpses of his bright future were slowly but surely beginning to show. Through out his life, he showed independence, relentlessness, ability to improvise, call attention to himself and get around rules meaning to tie him down. Jack Johnson was a self made man who had the drive to go forward and achieve what he wanted to achieve through hard work, patience and all the skills he was blessed with.
Folklore is traditional stories within cultures that are passed down through generations some of which are myths, legends, and, fairy tales. Legends are stories based on historical facts that have been exaggerated or changed up over time. Myths are stories of gods demigods and other supernatural characters. Fairy tales involve creatures that are completely out of the ordinary. These stories are hard to believe because most of it is nonexistent. African folklore is heavily concentrated on fairy tales because because it has to do so much with their customs and traditions. African folklores involve more animals than people to entertain young ones more that older ones. The kids are the future of the culture so their values have to do with the children
In sports, there is no shortage of black success stories. Meanwhile, two black men of prominence in Odessa (who are not athletes) fell from grace. Willie Hammond Jr. (the first black city councilor and county commissioner) and Laurence Hurd (a minister and desegregation supporter) were glimmers of hope for the black community that were both snuffed out. Hammond was arrested on charges of arson conspiracy and perjury and Hurd is in prison for burglary and robbery, leaving a hole in the morale of the black community that was not repaired. These losses, combined the with negative news of black people circulated via media, made the possibility of succeeding in a white man’s world inconceivable. Yet, there is no shortage of black success stories in sports, like Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson; in every area that is not a “rich man’s sport”, black athletes dominate. To the poor children on the Southside, there is something very alluring about the “Cinderella stories” of men from poor black neighborhoods rising to prominence through sports. Based on these examples, there seem to only be two paths for a black teen to take: criminal or athlete. Many of these teens aspire to be sports stars and depend on nothing else because there is nothing else. Some may become the superstars they hope to be or they fall into ruin as Boobie Miles, Derric Evans, and Gary Edwards
If you went off on a quest would you come back a changed person? “The Hero’s Journey isn’t just a pattern from myth. It’s the pattern of life, growth, and experience for all of us”(Harris and Thompson 49). Charles Portis is the author of True Grit, a western novel that takes place through the Indian Territory in Arkansas. In the novel True Grit, the character Mattie Ross, shows an interesting example of “The Hero’s Journey.” As we read we learn she is very outspoken and strong willed, she always wants things to be her way. Mattie shows us a great example of being very independent at the age of fourteen, but after her journey does she truly change as a person?
First, in the book Game Changers, the main character Ben faces adversity. Ben is a short little league baseball player who gets hit by a blazing-fast fastball. Since this has been first time ever being hit by a ball, he is now scared of every pitcher he faces. Ben has overcome adversity by “deciding to man-up and not be scared of the baseball”. The next time Ben overcomes adversity is when he is in a massive hitting slump (which means he’s not getting base hits in baseball). Ben shows “perseverance by not giving up like many kids would”. Ben eventually battles his way out of the slump. This is just another example of overcoming adversity.
This is a story of an individual who beat the odds and achieved worldwide recognition for his relentless pursuit to overcome the everyday struggles of the Great Depression. Mrs. Hannigan was a heavy drinker, and therefore, she cared less about everything. In class, we learned about how many people were kicked out of their jobs because the jobs didn’t have enough money to pay them. Rather than help him, the boxing place kicked James out.