Gran Torino Monologue

Though Sue had more of a negative impact in Thao’s life, using cinematography and character dialogue she brings a positive change into Walt’s life by helping him to realize not all young people are bad beings like his grandkids seem to be. Walt views the younger generations as selfish, only focused on themselves, and uncaring about others because that is exactly how each of his grandchildren act towards him. This view is reinforced in the scene “Inevitable Disappointment,” when Walt catches his granddaughter Ashley in the garage smoking a cigarette. She walks up to him asks, “So what are you going to do with it when you, like, die?” (Gran Torino) in reference to Walt’s most prized possession the Gran Torino. This dialogue shows the lack of

Ashley displays herself in a negative light by being self-centered and materialistic instead of caring about Walt’s wellbeing. Walt’s grandsons are not much better than Ashley. The boys are nosy and rummage through Walt’s trunk that contain his personal possessions from the war. They do this without permission and really do not care that they are invading his privacy. The grandchildren’s lack of care and blatant disrespect leads Walt to believe all kids must be like this including Thao which is the reason Walt dislikes the younger generation. Thao comes to the wake asking if he can borrow some jumper cables to fix his uncle’s car. Walt takes this as sign of Thao being uncaring and disrespectful and thus refuses to let him borrow the cables. Thao, though unknowingly, was showing a sign of disrespect by asking for something instead of checking on the person grieving. Thao, in Walt’s eyes, is a selfish, disrespectful boy that he wants nothing to do with. Sue, one the other hand, is the first kid Walt meets that does not show him any type of disrespect upon meeting one another. Walt meets Sue in the scene where these thugs are harassing her and the boy she was