On the Waterfront
I really enjoyed this film and its story line. Terry was a mobster without a care, but it was obvious from the beginning that he had a good side to him. He acted like a cold, hard, uncaring mobster until he saw, first hand, how his actions impacted those around him. After Joey’s death, when he was introduced to Edie, I saw Terry beginning to evolve into a more respectable human being. He fought the change at first, but the better he came to know Edie, he gradually accepted who he was and who he could be. Terry was able to do what no one else was willing to do; he was courageous and stood up for what he believed in regardless of what the consequences would be. I was disappointed at the end when Terry called Johnny Friendly out and no one stood beside him. Terry did an honorable thing by testifying and his fellow men shunned him for his actions. I thought that everyone would respect Terry and follow by example, but it took more than that. Terry had to get beaten to a pulp before the other men stood behind him. Overall, Terry was able to prove that one man can make a difference if he is willing to do whatever it takes.
Terry and Edie were my favorite characters in this film. Terry was interesting because he went through changes throughout the film. He was dynamic and ever changing. He became someone I was not expecting him to become. I thought that he would play deaf and dumb because that was the way of the waterfront. However, Edie was able to influence him and give him direction. I really respected Edie because she was so forgiving. She eventually came to know that Terry had set Joey up, but she was able to overcome this and forgive Terry. I think that shows a great deal about the type of person Edie is. She also was courageous like Terry. Edie stuck by him and supported him the whole time, without second guessing herself. If I were in Edie’s position, I would not have been able to forgive Terry; I would probably hold a grudge against him until the day I died because he was involved with her brother’s death.
This movie implied a lot about morals and doing the right thing. Through Terry’s actions viewers are able to see that we must all live life through truth and doing what is morally right. No one would tell Terry what to do; he had to make the decision on his own terms. Terry had to see that the truth sets us free and clears our conscience. This film also reflected social problems from the time period from which it was made. The mob was running everything and all work on the waterfront was regulated through the mob. This made it difficult for men to find work, the mob would hand pick the men they wished to pay and others would have to go without. This impacted the whole community because some men were unable to work, which meant many were poor. Another aspect this film incorporated was a struggle between two opposing forces. It was good versus evil and I thought that evil would prevail. It was the working class fighting against the mob. One side had to win, there could not have been a common ground, and because of Terry, the working class overcame the mob and began a new chapter for the waterfront.
In the film, Terry and Edie went through a period of growth, not only as individuals, but also as a couple. Terry had to deal with some major events that shaped him into who he was at the end of the film. When Terry realized that he had sent Joey to his grave, he changed his perspective on the mob and he began to question himself. Then when he met Edie, he started to show a softer side. He was resistant at first, but he soon saw that he had to be a different man to win Edie’s heart. Then his brother was killed by the mob, this made Terry revengeful, but with Edie’s guidance he was able to see that revenge would not solve any of his problems, only intensify them. Then at the end, Terry found himself and he stood up for what he believed in. He found that the truth would set him free, he had to deal with being an outcast, but eventually the men he knew saw him as a respectable individual and they followed his example and stood up beside him. Edie went through some changes also. She resented Terry after she found out about his involvement in her brother’s death. However, she was able to forgive him, which is a very difficult task, but through faith and love she knew that Terry was sorry and did not intend for things to happen as they did. Edie was able to see that Terry was influenced by Johnny Friendly, but she knew that he could change.
Overall, I think this film was very amazing. It incorporated personal struggles, community struggles, right and wrong, and living through truth. There was an abundance of situations which tested the characters and these situations were ones we can all learn from. I think that film did a good job of creating characters that we can relate to. I saw myself in Terry and Edie during different parts of the film, which made it more interesting.
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