The film On the Waterfront directed by Elia Kazan set in the 1950's and based on a true story follows Terry, an ex-boxer surrounded by a cruel world full of greed and corruption who turns longshoreman. It is Terrys difficult choice as to where his loyalty lies and whether he is to stand up against his brutal boss Johnny Friendly or stay 'Deaf and Dumb' a code the people of the waterfront live by. Throughout the film Terrys views change because of the different people who influence him, but by the end of the film his loyalty lies elsewhere to where it began. At the beginning of the film Terry feels obliged to have respect and loyalty towards Johnny Friendly and his brother because they are family, with Friendly acting as the father figure he
The story describes the protagonist who is coming of age as torn between the two worlds which he loves equally, represented by his mother and his father. He is now mature and is reflecting on his life and the difficulty of his childhood as a fisherman. Despite becoming a university professor and achieving his father’s dream, he feels lonely and regretful since, “No one waits at the base of the stairs and no boat rides restlessly in the waters of the pier” (MacLeod 261). Like his father, the narrator thinks about what his life could have been like if he had chosen another path. Now, with the wisdom and experience that comes from aging and the passing of time, he is trying to make sense of his own life and accept that he could not please everyone. The turmoil in his mind makes the narrator say, “I wished that the two things I loved so dearly did not exclude each other in a manner that was so blunt and too clear” (MacLeod 273). Once a decision is made, it is sometimes better to leave the past and focus on the present and future. The memories of the narrator’s family, the boat and the rural community in which he spent the beginning of his life made the narrator the person who he is today, but it is just a part of him, and should not consume his present.
Located in central Monterey Rey, California, the real city of Cannery Row is home to thousands of current residents, but is really home to a small, concentrated sense of nostalgia for the characters of John Steinebeck’s American Classic. Cannery Row, written in 1945 by Steinbeck, faintly touches on the idea of the American dream, on what it has to offer to a crookedly, quaint town in the middle of central California. The characters in Cannery Row are initially perceived as inappropriate, childish, slavish, ignorant, and a general mistake of humanity, with disgusting morals and a true burden to the world. As the story starts to unfold upon it self, and not only does this compelling plot line seem to start to come into place, the audience comes to revelation and comes to an understanding as to what the American dream really is. Mixed with his stylistic diction writing, Steinbeck convolutes the idea the American dream with a grim sense of realism on how it's unattainable, from society's basic perception. The characters in Cannery Row, represent perseverance through strife in spite of a ...
"Oh Hazel! This is where it comes from! I know now—something very bad! Some terrible thing—coming closer and closer" (Adams, 1975, p. 21). This quote at the beginning of Watership Down is the first of Fiver's amazing forewarnings, that helps him to demonstrate both of the themes of "trust" and "survival" in the rabbit world. Trust and survival are two key components to the rabbits lives, and they cannot live without either. Because of his ability to sense danger around him, Fiver exemplifies the related themes of trust and survival in Watership Down.
Based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, 'Jaws' centers around the fictional North Atlantic resort island of Amity, which finds itself terrorized by an enormous great white shark. Our hero is Martin Brody, a New York cop who took the job as Chief of the Amity PD to get his family out of the city and then finds himself in the midst of an unprecedented crisis none of his prior experience has prepared him for. The remains of young Christine Watkins are found on the beach, the apparent victim of a shark attack(Chrissie Watkins' death scene at the opening of the movie is one of the most legendary in the history of film). Chief Brody wants to close the beaches, but is refused permission
From well-respected Director Craig Ross, the film Blue Hill Avenue is a story about four tight knit friends living in the streets of rough a 1980’s Boston. The main characters of the film are Tristan, E Bone, Simon, and Money, these four characters grow up together hustling the streets. After finding a way to make money the four characters go from small time hustlers to big time dope dealers under the guidance of their supplier, Benny who is the main villain of the film. Through the adventure of the storyline, these four friends highlight the characteristics of what it is to embrace traditional masculinity and what it is to be a man.
In chapter 1 we are introduced to a character named bernie who is on a T2 tanker ship. Bernie is thinking about his young wife named Mariam, who is in her bed with the case of the flu. At a young age Bernie was born to the sea. Bernie followed his brother Bob into the coast guard. He enlisted onto the coast guard on february 26, 1946 and was sent to maryland. 10 years later he was now on duty in chatham. Bernie’s first challenge of a coast guard happened in 1949 when he responded to a distress call at Chatham lifeboat station. Where the boat USS Livermore had run aground on Bearse’s Shoal, off Monomoy
Michael experiences first hand the impact on himself facing conflict in his life. The story of “Two Fishermen” brings vision an intense reality; When an individual experiences a strong amount of external and internal conflict, their concept of reality can be altered, so much so that they may begin to
...ut boxing, it's a movie about what it means to be a man, a father, and a legend. It's about a man who works hard to support his family, teach his kids to be honest, and communicates delight in his wife with every glance. As Mae says to Jim in a late scene, "You're the Bulldog of Bergen, the Pride of New Jersey, you're everybody's hope, you're your kids' hero, and the champion of my heart."
A good leader is someone who can think with a clear head while under pressure. He is someone who can unite people to a common cause. He should be able to be as good with logistics as he is in battle. He should be able to accept that there are others above him, and when assigned a task to do it faithfully. Finally, he should stay loyal to his cause even during hard or difficult times. Nathanael Greene was one of George Washington’s most trusted generals and close friend. He remained loyal to Washington throughout the entire war. When things started going bad for the colonists, Greene didn’t desert the cause. Instead he fought harder and continued to inspire his soldiers to stay strong. He accepted his position of power humbly, and when it was taken away from him he handled it gracefully (Golway). Nathanael Greene was a strong leader and a loyal friend during the American Revolution.
When considering what way Elia Kazan uses On the Waterfront to comment on his participation in the HUAC or the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing: what stands out most prominently is the films final scene. It is here that we see our main character of Terry Malloy return to docks were, once he is refused work, confronts union boss John Friendly and then before a vicious brawl ensues states, “I’m glad what I done,”. What this is erring is how he has ‘ratted’ on Friendly which can be seen in parallel with Elia’s testimony to the HUAC where he named eight former friends who had been in a communist party with him. Or as outlined in his
Throughout ‘On the Waterfront’, Johnny Friendly has a rough upbringing and his taste for power does not let his overcome conflict. Because Friendly is a very stubborn and cold hearted man, with control over the unions, he does not want to develop over the course of the text. This is shown when Terry fights against Friendly, when he wont accept change and therefore fails to put aside his pride.
The film “Freaks” and the story “Spurs” both had an affective theme, however one theme is better than the other. The film “Freaks” displays a theme of loyalty, friendship, and confidence. “The film blurred out abnormality and immorality,” according to Doug Cummins essay (source B). The story “Spurs” displays a theme of disloyalty and selfishness. Both pieces of work display different themes for different reasons.
In the play King Lear, Shakespeare presents the reader with many negative views of society, and of human nature. One of the few bright spots in the play is Kent, a very loyal and honest man. Through Kent and his actions, Shakespeare shows the reader the nature of true loyalty.
One of the more prevalent themes of this movie is racism, and how prejudicial mindsets ultimately lead to one’s own demise. The movie outlines how racism, among other things, can adversely affect someone’s judgment. After the father died, we see how the family gradually deteriorates financially as well as emotionally after Derek (the older brother played by Edward Norton) turns to a neo Nazi gang for an outlet, which eventually influences his younger brother Danny (played by Edward Furlong) to follow down ...
“A Knife In The Water” is a film about money and power. A wealthy couple picks up a young hitchhiker and invites him to spend the day with them on their yacht. Through out the day the older man, Andre, and the boy struggle for power. The struggle ends with Andre thinking he has killed the boy, and the boy sleeping with Andre’s wife. (Polanski 1962)