Gilbert The Grape Essay, Research Paper
Feature films engage with the audience in many ways. The films The Castle, What s Eating Gilbert Grape and Rocky all contain strong central characters, in which the characterisation of them plays a large part in engaging the viewer and conveying messages encoded in the films. For example, in the satirical The Castle, Daryl Kerrigan is portrayed as a regular Aussie Battler , with exaggerated traditional family and neighbourhood values to highlight the advantages of being of a higher class in society, and how the government deals with issues regarding the needs of the individual in society. The characterisation of Gilbert Grape in What s Eating Gilbert Grape assists in inflicting values of ones personal needs to the viewer while intertextual references to the life of Mohamed Ali in Rocky inflicts values of personal goals and determination.
Daryl Kerrigan is the central character in The Castle. He is characterised to have an average or normal character. He is portrayed as just another one in the crowd . He is often pictured next to tall buildings, humbling his figure, and high objects surround his house, such as planes and electricity towers. The airport and the towers also make him appear small and humble because they are something that people have done which he marvels, so does not fully understand. There are shots of him walking into the distance on the street, among the crowd until he becomes almost invisible. This highlights the fact he is only one person same as many, it also suggests that the government has possibly lost sight of the common man, and is not thinking of the individual in society.
Daryl is characterised to be the typical Aussie battler ; he is simple, optimistic, and loving and caring toward his family and neighbourhood. His simplicity is shown clearly through what pleases him, for example, his wife s cooking. He is marvelled with common foods such as rissoles, sponge cake and ice cream. He is proud of Tracey because she is a qualified hairdresser, and has appeared on The Price is Right . He wears ordinary clothes such as flannelette shirts and jeans, further illustrating his common nature and simplicity. He is a tow-truck driver, which is not only significant because it is a typical common-man s job, but because it highlights how he contrasts to the stereotypical tow-truck driver, as their profession is to feed off others mistakes. He cares for his family greatly, as he tries to bear all of the weight associated with their house problems. His family values are accentuated because most occasions are a family occasions, dinner is always eaten at the table and the television is watched together. This is also highlighted by having most of the scenes of the family with everyone arranged in a family picture pose, for example, when they are watching television together or the picture on Wayne s wall. The fact that Dale Kerrigan narrates the film is significant because it shows the importance of his family in his life, that is, it is his life. These attributes are constructed by the producer to encourage an audience of today to see Daryl and his family as harmless, and hence respond sympathetically to the their situation.
The audience can also see the rarity of having a family with values similar to the Kerrigans in Australia at this time. Daryl s care for his family and neighbours, no matter of their nationality or background is exaggerated because of the satirical style of the film, so the Kerrigan s differences to regular families are highlighted, hence the trend that people of today are less caring and tolerant of others is also accentuated. This is linked to the idea that many people s values of money exceed values of fairness and justice. This is expressed when Daryl rejects the Barlow Group s offer of more money for the house, because he has principles , hinting that society of today does not have these principles These ideas follow from the idea that Australian government does not cater directly for everyone s needs, that government officials are only catering for their own needs of money and their own convenience.
Daryl is also portrayed as ignorant and uneducated. He is seen as ignorant to the outside world as he does not realise the danger and discomfort caused by living near the towers and airport, and he does not know who Airlink is even though he lives next to an airport. He is a tow-truck driver, and the person with the highest level of education in the family is a TAFE graduate. Their family is therefore not wealthy and of a lower middle socio-economic class. When he had to find a lawyer it was clear that he did not have the necessary experience, information or even money to hire the right type. It is therefore obvious to the viewer that it is hard for an uneducated and poor person to compete against a more wealthy person of a higher education. This idea is confirmed when Wayne s parole is only granted when a rich people s lawyer is representing him. This addresses the issue that more wealthy people get advantages over poorer people. It also challenges the myth that Australia is a classless society and addresses the effects of classes in society.
Gilbert Grape is the central character of What s Eating Gilbert Grape. He is characterised as being trapped in his unrewarding and boring life. He works in a small store and lives with his family. This is developed by use of filmic techniques from the opening of the film when Arnie and Gilbert are waiting at the side of the road. Arnie is running around in circles talking excitedly, while Gilbert is sitting under the shade of a large tree, answering Arnie s questions in dulcet tones. The scenery is desolate and isolated with a long straight road stretching into the distance, representing Gilbert s boring and unrewarding life. The road also, as it is the only road in or out of Endora, symbolises the only way for Gilbert to leave his life. This notion is also expressed in the intent of Gilbert and Arnie, being to watch the string of campervans going passing through. They wish to be like them, they wish to move away from their current lives, yet they are just watching their chances pass. This is confirmed at the end of the film when Gilbert is finally driving on the road, leaving his life. The contrasting actions of the two at this point represent Gilbert s static nature, that he is going nowhere and achieving nothing in life. The repetition of him saying, We re not going anywhere represents Gilbert s entrapment while his voice, lacking emotion and expression, reflects his submissive nature. Further in the film there are many other symbols representing Gilberts entrapment, for example, the lobsters at the shop and the Arnie s bugs in the jar, the fact they are Arnie s bugs symbolising it is Arnie that burdens and therefore traps Gilbert. A window or the camera often frames Gilbert, further highlighting this entrapment.
Gilbert s family and his duties to them is the main thing that holds him down in his life. He is characterised to have many responsibilities; he is the breadwinner of the family and a father figure to Arnie and Ellen. He has a spiritually unrewarding job to support his family, and spends most of his time caring or watching over Arnie. He also places himself below others and does everything for other people. These ideas are also expressed through filmic techniques, for example, Gilbert is often positioned below others looking up. While working he is positioned crouching looking up at his boss, and he is seen looking up at Arnie climbing the water tower. This creates a sense of him being less than, or empowered by others, further reflecting his submissiveness. The fact that Gilbert is Arnie s prime carer implies he bears many responsibilities, which is also expressed visually with many scenes of Gilbert carrying Arnie on his back. The tree Gilbert sits under in the opening symbolises Gilbert s mother, its shadow representing her need for Gilbert and the entrapment and burden it places on him. These character attributes combined impose certain values on to the viewer, such as the importance of ones self-esteem and own needs.
In Rocky, Rocky Bal Boa is the central character. His character is modelled on Mohamed Ali, as portrayed in the documentary When We Were Kings . However, the end results of Ali s and Rocky s fights contrast, with Rocky losing and Ali winning. This signifies to the viewer that according to Rocky s values and aims, he had won, he had his girlfriend and he had gone the distance and fought to the best of his ability.
The films The Castle, What s Eating Gilbert Grape and Rocky all use the characterisation of their central character to engage the audience and to convey messages encoded in the films. The main issues of The Castle, such as government actions, changed values of society through the times and the effects of classes in society are all accentuated through the specific characterisation of the main character. Similarly, the characterisation of the central characters in What s Eating Gilbert Grape and Rocky help to inflict certain values that are encoded in the text.
Другие работы по теме:
Bruce Daw
– Consumerism Essay, Research Paper What does Bruce daw’s poetry say about consumerism and it’s influence on modern day society?Consumerism is a significant feature of modern society and the poet Bruce Dawe is highly critical of it’s negative influence.Throughout his work, Dawe sarcastically attacks the way in which people have been manipulated by the lore and appeal of consumerism.
Arch Bishop
– Becket Essay, Research Paper Before being named Arch Bishop, Becket found his pride in serving Henry and performing his duties as his Lord Chamberlain, all the while searching for his true honor and pride. He found them to be defending the honor of God and the Church after he became Arch Bishop.
The Sexton
’s Hero Essay, Research Paper For this piece of coursework on The Sexton’s Hero, I’ll be acting as the sexton (John) and I’ll be writing a funeral speech at
Cancer The Crab Essay Research Paper Cancer
Cancer: The Crab Essay, Research Paper Cancer: The Crab Cancer is a constellation, also known as the crab. You can see the stars that make up cancer during the winter in the eastern
Cesar Chavez Mural Essay Research Paper CESAR
Cesar Chavez Mural Essay, Research Paper CESAR CHAVEZ MURAL The artist who painted the Cesar Chavez mural was Emigdio Vazquez. He painted the mural as a tribute to Cesar Chavez, because Emigdio wanted to paint a heroic and poigmant mural taht would celebrate his life and all what Cesar did for the farm workers.
Cesar E Chavez Essay Research Paper Cesar
Cesar E. Chavez Essay, Research Paper Cesar E. Chavez founded and led the first successful farm worker’s union in U.S. history. In 1952, Cesar was laboring in apricot orchards outside San Jose when he met Fred Ross, an organizer for the community Service Organization, a barrio-based self-help group sponsored by Chicago-based Saul Alinksey’s Industrial areas foundation.
On 1705
("Volcanoes Be In Sicily") Essay, Research Paper Sandra Gilbert Dickinson felt that although "Volcanoes be in Sicily…I may contemplate / Vesuvius at Home." For as a mistress of the mysteries
Dream Job Essay Research Paper For me
Dream Job Essay, Research Paper For me, the perfect dream job would be a team manager of the Green bay Packers. To even think of standing next to the ?man-beast? named Gilbert Brown would be a dream itself. To be able to shake Antonio Freeman?s hand after a good catch, have eye contact with Ahmad Green after he just scored six against the Buccaneers, hand Bret Farve the game ball, it would be just what the doctor ordered.
Red Wine Varietals Essay Research Paper Red
Red Wine Varietals Essay, Research Paper Red Wine Varietals These choices of red wines represent the five most common varieties sold in restaurants today. These wines were chosen to give a broad overview of different grape varieties as well as different countries, from an introductory point of view. Each wine in it self has significant characteristics, such as, different varieties of fruit, tannins, colors, finishes, and bodies.
Mikado Essay Research Paper The Mikado is
Mikado Essay, Research Paper The Mikado is an operetta that was written by William Schwenck Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Gilbert?s text is a masterpiece of comic writing and Sullivan’s ever tuneful music is perfectly adapted, serving in a remarkable manner to set off the amusing character of the words. The two have made a script that is familiar to English audiences.
John Gilbert RodrGuez Espanol Essay Research Paper
JOHN GILBERT+ RODR-GUEZ “Poderoso y pol mico” son algunos de las palabras usaron para describir el trabajo art stico de John Gilbert Rodr guez. La fotograf a no ha sido un medio fuerte y popular a expresar o comunicar la experiencia de Latino y la cultura en nuestra sociedad. Ni lo tiene fue expresado de un punto de Veterano de Chicano Vietnam del panorama.
William Gilbert Essay Research Paper LIFE AND
William Gilbert Essay, Research Paper LIFE AND TIMES William Schwenk Gilbert was born in London on the 18th of November 1836. During his youth, Gilbert toured Europe with his parents and his 3 sisters, returning back to Europe in the year 1849. He settled down and went to school at the Great Ealing School. Gilbert was interested in the theatre and music when he was younger.
Eating Gilbert Grape
– Response Essay, Research Paper eating gilbert grape – response Topic 1: “I want to be a good person,” says Gilbert. Does the film suggest that he achieves this?
Shakespearean Comedy Essay Research Paper Suzanne KirbyCOMEDY
Shakespearean Comedy Essay, Research Paper Suzanne Kirby COMEDY IN SHAKESPEARE Shakespeare s comedies can be recognised in terms of plot, structure and characters. We can see that Shakespearean comedies follow the same structural pattern, a basic plot on which the play is based. For example, a key feature of all comedies is that they depend upon the resolution of their plots.
My Fuck Life Essay Research Paper Each
My Fuck Life Essay, Research Paper Each piece was marked with four numbers: the first indicated which span; the second, noted which row of stones; and the last two indicated which position in that
Abortion Essay Research Paper wwwpottersschoolcomabortionIs it right
Abortion Essay, Research Paper www.pottersschool/abortion/ Is it right or is it wrong? Is it murder or is it a woman’s choice. There are so many conflicting views, but who is right? The debate over abortion will probably never be settled in my life time. As with many computer literate people, the author of this site gives us an objective view on abortion.
Abortion 2 Essay Research Paper AbortionAbortion
Abortion 2 Essay, Research Paper Abortion Abortion? Is it the right or wrong thing to do? In this paper I will try to prove why I believe that it is wrong to have an abortion. Why have an abortion when you can have the baby and put it up for adoption after birth? When you have an abortion, you are committing manslaughter, murder.
Gilbert Grape Essay Research Paper What
Gilbert Grape Essay, Research Paper What’s Eating Gilbert Grape portrays a family that is dealing with the trials, tribulations, and also great times of having a member with a disability. The Grape family consists of Gilbert, Ellen, Amy, Mama, and of course, Arnie. The Grape family lives in an isolated town of Endora in a house that seems to be in shambles since their father died.
Farming In The 1960
′S Essay, Research Paper Grapes of Wrath As the Great Grape Boycott carries onto another summer, Listen Magazine now turns to a real person of this struggle, the farmer. Marina Jalos*, a grape picker for the Giumarra Vineyard Corporation and a single mother of two, of Modesto, CA tells Listen her life in the field.
Grapes Of Wrath Essay Research Paper Grape
Grapes Of Wrath Essay, Research Paper Grape of Wrath Essay Question English 11 Ms. Issacks Christina Clemons Explain how the behavior of the Joads shows Steinbeck?s view of the responsibility of the individual to society as a whole.
Gilbert
’s “In Lying In Bed” Essay, Research Paper Gilbert Keith Chesterton was one of the greatest English authors ever to live. He wrote many essays and novels. He had much time to do this because he was a large man and could not move around easily. In Gilbert’s essay, “In Lying in Bed” his deep understanding of humanity clearly evident.
Heat Attacks Essay Research Paper Too Few
Heat Attacks Essay, Research Paper Too Few Americans Take Aspirin to Prevent Second Heart Attack In an article from Doctor Gilbert Ross of the American Council on Science and Health it was revealed that only 26% of former heart attack patients take aspirin on a regular basis to prevent a reoccurrence of heart disease.
History Of Lacrosse Essay Research Paper What
History Of Lacrosse Essay, Research Paper What is Lacrosse? Summary: Lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America, and dates back to the 1400 s. Lacrosse did not become well know until the 1600 s.
First Impressions May Be Deceiving Essay Research
Paper First Impressions May Be Deceiving Michael Jordan For many years now, people have been fool by appearances. Someone may look at the exterior of an object and expect one thing when actually the exact
United Farm Workers Essay Research Paper The
United Farm Workers Essay, Research Paper The United Farm Worker s Union (UFW) has made the same mistakes that other unions have made in the past 25 years. The number one reason for the UFW not having as much of significance with agro-business today was that they lost the ties to their roots. Just as the Teamsters and AFL-CIO, getting local communities together and fighting for basic human rights formed the UFW.
Movie What
’s Eating Gilbert Grape Essay, Research Paper Movie: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, as directed by Lasse Hallstrom, is a comedy, drama, romance, all wrapped up into one grand movie. Leonardo DiCaprio
Mobile Alerts Essay Research Paper Mobile Alerts
Mobile Alerts Essay, Research Paper Mobile Alerts – Concept Paper. What is Mobile Alert? Mobile Alert is the text message (SMS) sent to a mobile phone as a result of occurrence of an event for which the mobile user has registered the request for getting the notification.
Peer Pressure Essay Research Paper Whose Fault
Peer Pressure Essay, Research Paper Whose Fault Is It? Adolescents abuse illegal drugs for several reasons. If a teen is abusing drugs, your family is no different from many other families today. The question some may ask themselves is, Why does a child do drugs? This research paper will explain some of the reasons adolescents abuse drugs.