Prompt Help! (On The Waterfront)

[nataliestmarys]

I need some help with this prompt that was on a handout I was given at school and I'm struggling to devise 3 arguments/topics for it in my essay.

'My favourite scenes in the film (On The Waterfront) are the love scenes between Marlon and Eva Marie Saint... It was during these most tender moments that Marlon enlisted the audience in his favour'. (Elia Kazan 'Making On The Waterfront') Do you share Kazan's views?

Anyone know of any good/strong points to make within the essay?

Greatly Appreciated! 

[Ancora_Imparo]

1. Despite his apparent aggressive nature, Terry is in fact a sensitive and compassionate person. (Shown by interaction with Edie)
2. The source of Terry's belligerence stems from his harsh upbringing and involvment with Johnny Friendly, not from himself. (Terry not to blame for his actions. Edie is able to bring out his inner qualities.)
3. Terry's moral compass is finally changed due to the intimacy of his relationship with Edie and his need to prove himself to her.

Just some ideas to (hopefully) get you going.

[yearningforsimplicity]

The love scenes act as a contrast and show a different shade of Terry's character - that he is a caring person who is capable of actually loving someone. Compare this to Johnny Friendly who playfully punches, teases and plays with Terry at the start of the film but only to "buy" him (by offering him half a buck) - I think the love scene shows that Terry is capable of loving someone without "buying" them and without using them for his own selfish or evil need (as Friendly does with Terry) - and it shows his moral and emotional development as a character

Also, the room in which the kiss between Edie and Terry takes place is the same one that Joey was summoned from at the beginning of the film.Also note the way Friendly's minions keep shouting "Terry" like they were shouting for Joey at the beginning. This shows the risks and consequences (i.e. dying like Joey did) that Terry is willing to take to be with Edie. His sacrifices and his yearning to be understood by the one person he cares for are feelings that most people would experience and so the audience is almost made to empathise with Terry and see him as a changed man.  The love scene not only establishes Terry's and Edie's love but also confirms his willingness to be accepted as a better and moral person both by Edie and by the viewers.

I think the love scene also signified Terry's not being controlled by Friendly (or anyone) anymore and that new-found independence would also exalt him in front of the viewers. Though he was quite aggressive with Edie, he is quite a physically acting person and words don't really come well to him as they do to Edie (note the scene in the middle of that ship hold place where his words get muted by the sound of the ship horn) - so actions speak louder for Terry and in this case, it was one of the first scenes where he didn't let someone else control him (despite Edie shouting her ass off at him hahaha) and so that shows Terry's elevated character development compared to anyone else in the film