Terry’s transformation throughout the film is stemmed from his moral awakening due to the betrayal he feels from Johnny Friendly and his “henchmen”. Initially, he is determined to disregard his conscience yet as a result of the guilt & restlessness he feels in regards to his role in Joey’s murder, his conscience becomes distinguished. His guilt over the murder is juxtaposed against the carelessness of the mobsters who joke that Joey could “sing but he couldn’t fly”, it is here that the Kazan separates Terry from the mob as he conveys him as a vulnerable & sensitive character as his conscience begins to overpower his ‘tough guy’ act. Kazan’s use of mist and fog relentlessly suppressing Terry Mallow highlights the ambiguity in Terry’s conscience, which reflects he is only just beginning to initiate recognition to his morals
Terry speaking out in the cab shows his inability to “keep quiet” and his regret as becoming a “bum” through following the orders of Johnny Friendly and the mob. While charley only sees from a financial viewpoint “Do you know how much the piers are worth that we control through the local?” However Terry is more focused on fulfilling his dream, something which no amount of money can reclaim, his sense of dignity and respect. This is evident when he quotes “I could’ve been a contender. I could have been somebody”. Terry’s speech alone in this scene shows his detachment from being ordered around and stuck in a cage like a “pigeon”, deaf and dumb to speaking out and attempting to redeem his sense of dignity and power to become a
“Terry Malloy’s most important conflict is not with Johnny Friendly, but with himself.” To what extent do you agree? ‘On the waterfront’ is a film about a corrupted and treacherous wharf, which highlights the conflicts not only among the people – which include Johnny Friendly’s gang and the local longshoremen, but inner conflicts in the characters as well. The story’s protagonist, Terry Malloy, undergoes a tumultuous change in his life as he turns against his own “family”, battling with not only Friendly but with himself. He struggles with his conscience after he had indirectly caused the death of Joey Doyle, which creates the spark that kick-starts Terry’s personal quest in searching for the guts to make a change in his life. Though the conflict between Friendly and Malloy is the climax of the film, Terry’s internal conflict has a greater significance as it creates the base for the building of Terry’s character, the main element and theme of the film which drives the film, questioning one’s morality, conscience and judgement.
Shylock’s actions reveal a lot about his ethical beliefs: that he would go as far as to kill a man in order to get revenge. In addition, Shylock’s actions reveal that he can get so caught up in his anger and so determined about his vengeance that he loses all sense of ethics. However, his motivation to get revenge and kill Antonio is fueled by his desire to be treated equally and respected by the Venetian society. In Act 1, Scene 3, when Shylock and Antonio are discussing their deal, Shylock says, “Fair sir, you spat on me Wednesday last, / You spurn’d me such a day, another time / You call’d me dog”(1.3.121-123). Antonio has treated Shylock very rudely and disrespectfully, even calling him a “dog” because of his religion, and now he is coming to him for money.
Grandpa Bobby tells his story: some people offered him a job smuggling emeralds from South America, but later double-crossed him, tried to kill him, and stole his beloved fishing boat. Ever since then, he's been trying to track them down and get back his boat. It hurt to think that everyone thought he was dead, but it was necessary. First, he didn't want the guys he was looking for to know he was still alive; second, he also knew that if his son found out, he would, true to form, drop everything and rush down to South America without another thought. Grandpa Bobby was in a bar in a small fishing village in Colombia when he saw Paine's interview on the satellite TV.
In the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Huck has to deal with his conscience by either going to hell for helping a slave escape or he helps Jim because he knows it’s the right thing. The only downside to turning Jim in was that everyone would look down upon Huck too. Also everyone would probably later find out that Huck faked his death At first Huck was going to rat Jim out to the people out on the boat but his conscience got to him. and told him that it wasn’t the right thing. The next time Huck was going to create a letter explaining what happened but he ended ripping it up.
“We learn of another pair of brothers” (Goldman pg232) the uncle being like Sonny and their father being like Sonny’s bother the narrator. This is important because it reflects that people are different and do not react the same way to life even when brought up the same way. Sonny’s uncle much like Sonny clung to music and culture. The narrator may be linking their uncle’s accidental death to his life style when it could not be related in any way. While living with Sonny’s brother’s family Sonny’s brother doesn’t understand Sonny’s drug use or his musical escapes while playing nightclubs friends homes or within the walls of his home.
The characters of Joey Doyle and Dugan both attempt to stop Johnny Friendly’s hold over the waterfront but ultimately are unable to make a change alone. Kazan illustrates that it is only when a group of individuals unite together change can be made in a corrupt society. However, the ambiguity of the final shot of the film alongside the references to corrupt outside of the constrained city of Hoboken highlight Kazan’s belief that injustice and tyrannical leadership is everpresent within society.
I take it as do not go off task unless you are willing to lose it all as in your life, your health, or even your mind. Our second victim was chief he was the one that was the one that was steering the boat. His character was special. He did not say much, all he had to do is drive the boat. As soon as he stepped away from his task he got killed from a spear that went right through his chest.
Although he may not understand what happened in his past, he feels he is chained to it and that his life is already set for him. Throughout the story The Misfit behaves in ways that show he doesn’t want to live the life he has, but he feels obligated to fill in the gaps that his past has created. The Misfit is very similar to the father in a short called “The Boat”. The father works extremely hard on a boat in the harbor to support his family. He has a son that helps him, daughters that help around the house and a very old-fashioned wife that disapproves of many things that make him happy.