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
Elia Kazan’s ‘On the Waterfront’, is a story of Terry Malloy’s ultimate journey of fulfilling his dreams on becoming a contender and becoming a man from a ‘bum’. Two of the most influential people, Father Barry and Edie Doyle constantly remind Terry to listen to his conscience. ‘On the Waterfront’ takes the audience on a journey through terry’s life, which gives them an insight into his life and dilemmas which he faces along the way. Terry’s redemption took time and was aided by the support of others. When Johnny Friendly’s gang murders his brother Charlie, Terry realizes the union corruption makes the decision to go against the union and make them pay, now that he’s felt the pain personally.
Instead of admitting to their heinous actions, the three men sought help from their willing ‘brothers’ to bully and persuade black and white people alike into submission and essentially cover-up the whole incident. I understand that in the face of punishment, people will do anything to ‘get away with murder’, but how can so many people feel no remorse in essentially erasing one man’s existence? It is sickening to realize that the KKK could be so effective in brainwashing an entire town. Meanwhile, the African American community likewise gave into emotion and engaged in a poorly thought out and executed plan of retaliation. Instead of fighting for Marrow’s justice and their own rights in a civil manner, the African Americans in Oxford choose to cause more damage by creating chaos and classifying
When she goes to the leader of the group Ann Putnam to ask about joining the group she is rejected. She wants to go back to ask again but she does not want to act desperate and be made fun of. While delivering goods to the poor of Salem for her parents shop she visits a reverend’s slave, Tituba. She visits Tituba to learn more about what the other girls have been discussing. She asks Tituba if she knows what the girls have been up to and all she says is that the girls have been doing devil worshiping.
Gabe’s Decision Many paths may be offered in life, but ultimately only one may be chosen. Like in Gangster, by Lorenzo Carcaterra, Gabe is brought up by two mob bosses and is taught the way of gangsters. He later chooses to leave the life of being a gangster because he sees how one of his guardians, Angelo, is not allowed to love or trust anybody. Gabe chooses to leave the life that Angelo has offered him because he is not allowed to love. When Angelo and Gabe are having a discussion on a boat, Gabe reveals that he does not want to live the same life as Angelo.
The blocking of this scene shows Charley at the head, indicating the hierarchy in the gang. We find that Terry had no knowledge of the murder, as he thought “the worst they was gonna do was lean on him a little bit”. Tullio and Truck’s jokes, “maybe he could sing, but he couldn’t fly”, is juxtaposed with Terry’s guilt and concern over the ordeal. This shows the separation between Terry and the other gang members. Use of character clothing shows this distinction in power as well.
“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.
SCENES CHARACTERS THEMES “Johnny Friendly’s bar” 5:48 Demonstration of Friendly’s power and his justification for killing Joey Johnny Friendly; keeps control over everybody using physical intimidation of his workers. - Terry allows himself to be intimidate by Johnny (when he picks him up before). He constantly reminds him about making him lose a match so he and Charlie can make money. Gave us his life story, he feels he has worked and struggled for wheat he has achieved Johnny friendly reacts with complete overbearing psychical domination and exiles him from the docks Attempted corruption of Terry Places the money into Terry’s jacket symbolises that he is in control of Terry’s body and soul. As if he drawing him back after the violent
Finish with a rhetorical question or other? TEEL Introduction The film ‘On the Waterfront’ by Elia Kazan demonstrates in a very realistic way how an unrelenting evil controls and corrupts a seemingly powerless community. The longshoremen’s life depends on the job that the ‘boss’, Johnny Friendly provides them with. There is a shape-up to select the work force which condemns them to a life of constant uncertainty and economic hardships. However, those who are brave enough to stand up to this corruption, often result in their death by the mob.
When Richard and Harrison agree to fight themselves for money they end up humiliating themselves. For the two men are unable to fake a fight and are thus forced to actually injure one another due in part to the fear that the white viewers invoke on them. This fight in the end deeply ashamed Richard for it got him to realize that violence infects the black community in general, whether from within or from the white community’s imposed violence. When Richard grows up he moves to Chicago and joins the Communist movement. However he learns quickly that the police beat protesting Communists and Richard is forced to move from one outcast group to another, never truly escaping reality.