The Paper Chase

1547 Words7 Pages
The Sacrifice of Success “The Paper Chase” tells the prodigious story of James H. Hart, a first year law student at Harvard law school. The movie depicts the struggle of young law students as they seek to pass their classes and at times compete amongst each other for superior marks. Hart’s views of his malicious, yet brilliant, professor Kingsfield change dramatically throughout the story as Hart matures and discovers the demanding life of a law student. When one sees this movie there are many possible themes that they could associate with law school. The experience is different for each and every person depending on his or her own diligence and work ethic. A great question that comes to mind regarding law school and the commitment that it requires that can be debated would be: Is law school meant to dehumanize the students in order to divide the weak from the resilient or is it simply a heroic journey of determination and overcoming obstacles? Having watched only the first scene in Kingsfield’s contract law class one would jump to conclusion that dehumanization and humiliation are qualities quite prevalent. Kingsfield chose Hart to recite the material facts of the Hawkins Vs. McGee case, which Hart did not know was a required read for the first class. Kingsfield recites the facts for him but then picks Hart to determine the damages appropriate for the doctor’s actions. Hart, embarrassed and nervous, replies vaguely but out of complete humiliation struggles to keep his breakfast down after the class was concluded. This was the first example of Kingsfield’s Socratic method of teaching, which he states is “unlike any schooling you’ve ever been through before.” He asks the questions and relies on the students to give appropriate answers. “We seek to develop in you the ability to analyze the vast complex facts that constitute the relationship between the members of a
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