Rebel Without a Cause One of the major themes that are presented throughout the whole entire movie is the dysfunctional relationship between one of the characters and their fathers. The movie portrays father figures as problematic which then shape the actions and the characters themselves as the movie progresses. We can see all three dynamics of the father figure presented through Jim, Judy, and Plato. Through Jim, the father figure that he is presented with is a father who is weak allows himself to be walked on by Jim¡¯s mother and grandmother. Judy¡¯s father, on the other hand, is quite the opposite of Jim¡¯s father in that he is the overbearing, masculine, and insensitive. Lastly, we see the absence of a father figure in the life of Plato which completes the list from all three sides. We can see throughout the movie that Jim¡¯s father is cowardly and afraid to stand up for himself even to his own wife. There are multiple scenes in the movie where this is quite evident, but the scene that stands out the most is when Jim comes back from the ¡°chicken run¡± and looks for reassurance from his father. Yet, what he gets is not a father giving him guidance and support, but someone who tries to please his son and agrees with everything he says. Instead of standing up for his own beliefs and standing behind what he tells his son at first, he continually switches what he says to find the easy way out of the situation. Jim¡...
Rebel Without a Cause is an unconventional story with a conventional, classical approach to storytelling. The film follows the seven traits of Classical Hollywood Cinema and is adapted to the hybridization of film noir, which was primarily a style of B movies, and teen drama films, which was newly emerging in the 50s.
He risks his freedom to help the doctor save Tom’s life and help Huck successfully escape the Shepherdsons’. Jim shows his appreciation for Huck bringing him on this journey toward freedom by telling him he will never forget him for helping him and lying to protect his hope. On the other hand, Jim can be considered intelligent due to his belief in ghosts. But, he also posses great common sense in situations where he must protect others such as Huck. Just as Jesus Christ shed light on all things human, Jim put important aspects of his life on the line and when others so that for him, he shows how thankful he is through
Because of his rolling stone like upbringings, conformity is not a part of his forte. In some ways he takes after his father, the infamous town drunk who hasn’t attempted to contact Huck in years. But despite all of the complications and seeming misery, he is a decent boy who only gets himself into a bit of mischief. Therefore, with the difficult life he’s already had at such a young age, it’s a miracle he isn’t either depressed or a delinquent. Jim also hasn’t had it easy. Being a black man living in the south during pre-Civil War times means daily persecution. He lived a life that he could never fulfill because of the metaphorical chains he never got to take off. So he was left no other choice but to run until he found freedom. Although this would be deemed as “reckless” to society, he did it out of love for his family and fear of his life. Every decision Jim made was done with the hope that he would one day be reunited with them. His intentions were pure, and the positive light that’s cast upon him gives the readers a heartfelt sympathy for what he’s going through. Both Jim and Huck had to overcome great struggle until they found solace in the
Another part of the hero’s journey is known as “Tests”, these are challenges that the main character must overcome throughout his/her journey. One of the biggest tests that Jim Hawkins endured was dealing with Captain Long John’s betrayal, he and his shipmates engaged in war on the ship as well as the island and he could have been killed at any moment. “The ship shot another cannon, this one barely missed Jim as he struggled to climb the hill” (156). Another test he had to overcome was his fear of leaving his ordinary world, but throughout the story he was able to become independent and handle tasks on his own, which is something he had trouble doing during the start. “I made a promise that I would be the one to bring this treasure home to my mother, and I’m not going to let someone like Long John stop me even if I have to fight him myself” (107). Therefore, the fact that Jim is able to pass these tests proves that he is indeed a hero. He is the one who sets out on his own to sabotage Long John’s plans while they are at the island and succeeds, he is the reason the supreme ordeal is
This quote shows how much he cares about his family and what he would do for them. He even acts as a surrogate father to a white child and during this time period that is unheard of till Jim steps up. Where some people would say Jim wants to become free just like anyone in his situation, some contradict and say he holds bigger things to worry about and more than just his freedom is at stake. The doubters who say that Jim wants freedom only do not understand the longing of family and sadness Jim has. Jim feels that the only way to get retribution and the love of his family again was to be free and the only way that would have happens was if Jim was freed. Jim’s family and close friends show how much his life revolves around them. Even when his family and friends are around, he stays loyal like when Huck was at the Sheperdsons Jim does not leave, but instead stays in the swamp biding his time instead of running to freedom. This shows just how much Jim wants freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
Following the defeat of the Confederacy and to lift the morale of a shattered people momentum gathered to enshrine the Myth of the Lost Cause which would transform the Southern soldier living and dead, into a veritable hero.
Jim and his people are regarded by the society at the time to not have feelings. This is evidently not true as Jim specifically shows that he has feelings. Jim has the most feelings for his family, “head down betwixt his knees, moaning and moaning to himself… he was thinking about his family” (Twain 155). This quote shows that Jim felt feelings for his family that he so dearly missed. What Jim had done to his daughter was unfortunate and he knew that felt bad for this. Jim highly values his family and tries to fuel his quest for freedom only to be able to return with his family. “The first thing he would do when got to a free state he would go to saving up money and never spend a single cent, and when he got enough he would buy his wife, which was owned on a farm close to where Miss Watson lived; and then they would both work to buy the two children, and if their master wouldn't sell them, they'd get an Ab'litionist to go and steal them." (Twain 88). From this quote, I can concur that Jim was solely out on the search for freedom in order to live with his family in a free State and that he happened to grow a strong friendship with Huck.
The movie begins with the family and parenting styles concept of child development by introducing the audience to the main character James and his parents. James lives in a two-parent household with his authoritative parents who are providing him with warmth, love, and encouragement (Levine & Munsch, pp. 521-522). This concept of parenting styles is shown as the movie begins and James is seen spending time with his parents. Then suddenly, James’ world changes and he is abandoned as a result of his parents being killed. This causes James to become orphaned and forced to live with his authoritarian aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge are very controlling towards James and expect him to obey their rules without allowing him to express his feelings. This authoritarian behavior is seen throughout the movie. Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge are also uninvolved, neglectful, and abusive, using verbal and physical punishment on James when they feel it’s necessary, which is also seen throughout the movie (Levine & Munsch, p. 522). These behaviors cause James to develop lower self-esteem, show less intellectual curiosity, and feel lonely and afraid, which are typical outcomes of an authoritarian parenting approach (Levine & Munsch, pp. 521-523). Although James’ aunts’ authoritative parenting style has an effect on his emotional and social behaviors, it is his parents authoritative parenting that plays a...
He looks for a father because his own father is not a factor in his life. He dies when Jim is a young child and does not seem to have a significant effect on Jim’s life. Ben Gunn, Dr. Livesey, and John Silver provide Jim with examples and characteristics he incorporates into the person he becomes. Jim, like many others, finds father figures to identify with and pattern their own lives, whether it is a blood relative or a person they choose from their surroundings. Ben Gunn is the character in the book that shows Jim Hawkins how to survive, provide spiritual guidance, and be proud of who he is.
...all along Jim was free but being the adventurous boy he is he wanted Jim to turn out and be a hero like the one’s he reads about. Tom knows Jim could have been freed multiple times if he didn’t put him up to all of the childish games. Jim had stayed by Tom’s when he almost died and would do anything for him but Tom couldn’t give Jim the same respect back. His foolishness behavior caused Jim more pain and almost didn’t get him freed. Jim was a father figure to both boys and he stood by Huck’s side since the beginning of the novel.
Director Nicholas Ray was lucky to have a talented composer create an original score for Rebel Without A Cause. Leonard Rosenman was born in 1924 and studied music in New York and Europe. His work as a film composer and arranger is very traditional, and has been regarded by some music critics as "insignificant." However, Rosenman received Academy Awards and Oscar nominations for his work. Along with film scores, Rosenman wrote theme music and scores for numerous television shows. The score in Rebel Without A Cause is much like another film starring James Dean, East of Eden.
One critic has said that Jim is Huck’s “true father.” Discuss what this means. Include what Jim
Slavery has held good men like Jim captive in society. Slaves are not given any of the rights that the white people receive and have virtually no freedom. Men like Pap, being on a lower scale than most of the other white folk as he may be, his views do accurately depict and even parallel those of the average white person at the time. Pap is disgusted with the government and wont stand for the fact that they give the right to vote to blacks. He has the basic white supremacist beliefs and believes that it is a travesty that a black man should have the right to choose his senator or president. Jim, being a slave that he is, is stereotyped as being of a feeble order of humanity. The fact of the matter is though that he shows himself to be a better father to Huck t...
Jim is an extraordinary father figure towards Huck because he believes Huck is his responsibility and must do whatever it takes to keep him safe. When the two first meet, Jim’s main goal was to get to Cairo and be free from slavery, but after the two spent countless hours together floating down the river, Jim begins to develop a sense of endearment toward Huck and that he must treat him as one of his own. By using words like “honey” (Twain 113), one can see that Jim has grown affectionate towards Huck and would do anything to protect his well-being. The two gentlemen grow such a strong relationship that Jim forgets about his freedom just to ensure that Huck achieves his goal of finding a new home and escaping Pap. Jim also acts as a father towards Huck by providing Huck with a sense of security and protecting him from many difficulties. For example, in the beginning of the novel, Jim and Huck went exploring on the island where they found each other and on that island they found a cabin and inside they discovered a dead man and Jim told Huck, “He’s ben shot in de back. I reck’n he’s been dead two er three days. Come in, Huck, but doan’ look at his face-it’s too gashly” (Twain 50). The fact that Jim was willing to look at the gashed face of the dead man showed his bravery and willingness to do whatever it takes to protect Huck. Jim protects Huck throughout the twos adventures and in
In Allan Sillitoe’s The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner, we are introduced to Smith, a man with his own standards, beliefs, values, and battles. As we are taken through the story of a period of his live, we come to understand what Smith really stands for. He is a diehard rebel that is destined to always stick to his beliefs, and is willing to sacrifice all in a battle against his greatest enemy and opressor, society.