On The Waterfront Essay Advice

[bryantai64]

I'm doing the film On The Waterfront next term and our teacher advised us to complete this essay after first watching the film by ourselves before the term starts but I have no idea how to write this.
"I coulda been a contender." Terry suffers because he dares to break the code. Do you agree?
Any help much appreciated

[literally lauren]

What are you having trouble with, exactly?

Assuming you've seen the film - do you not know which evidence to use, or what your opinion/interpretation is regarding some of the characters and themes?

Or is this a broader question about Text Response (as in 'I don't know what my essay should look like or how I'm meant to plan and discuss things?')

Basically narrow it down between
a) not knowing what to write in terms of content
b) not knowing how to write it in terms of essay structure

[bryantai64]

Hi! Sorry I didn't make it clear about what I needed help with. Yes I have seen the film beforehand, and I do know how to write a text response in terms of structure. I am not sure which evidence to use from the film and how to properly approach this prompt. I just can't seem to think of any arguments I could use from the film.
Right now all I can think off is Charlie's murder and Terry losing all his friends after his testimony at the court.

[grannysmith]

Well, if we take into the account that he says he could have been a contender, which is really before he takes any decisive action against the mob, then he has essentially suffered from the outset. Being involved with the mob is really what causes Terry's suffering.

It could also be argued that Terry's supposed suffering from his brothers death is a blessing in disguise, despite how crude that may seem, as it was a necessary step towards taking down Friendly.

Sorry if my memory is a little hazy - I did this text a year ago, and as you can see, I don't do mainstream anymore :p

[literally lauren]

To deconstruct the prompt:
      "I coulda been a contender." Terry suffers because he dares to break the code. Do you agree?

We'll revisit the quote later once we've got a good conceptual understanding, so we first need to come to a conclusion about whether or not we agree with the emboldened statement: 'Terry suffers because he dares to break the code.'

Note that the statement isn't: 'Terry suffers' or 'Terry dares to break the code.' It's 'he suffers because he breaks the code.' What we have here is an implication, meaning we're not just unpacking a single key word, we're dealing with an overall message or hidden suggestion that the prompt is giving us. But first, we have to address these first basic points so
Step 1: Do you think Terry suffers? How do you know, and in what way?
Step 2: Do you think he dares to break the code? Is he successful in doing this? What evidence from the text can you use to support yourself?
Step 3: Do you think Terry's suffering happens as a result of him trying to 'break the code?'
These first two questions are kind of just for your own understanding, but this third one is where the real discussion will take place. Think about what elements of the text reinforce or contradict this idea, and then build your contention around that.

You've got a couple already, but see if you can expand upon that - you should never use multiple pieces of evidence to demonstrate the same point (eg. if my contention was 'Yes, Terry suffers because he dares to break the rules,' I couldn't just write three paragraphs filled with evidence that says 'look, here's an example of him breaking the rules and then suffering.') Instead, you want to be using evidence that furthers your argument and allows you to make the discussion interesting. Remember, even though this is a character-based prompt, you can still discuss other characters by way of contrast or comparison in your examples.

Another obvious piece of evidence that you'd be expected to include is the quote "I coulda been a contender." Think about that moment in the film - why is it significant? What do those circumstances tell us about Terry's character, and the message of the text as a whole?

Hopefully this'll help get you started, but let me know if any of this doesn't make sense

[bryantai64]

Thanks both of you for the help I'll try to work off those pointers and hopefully get through this, thanks again!

[bryantai64]

So I have written my essay, but am not sure if I am headed the right track. Could I get some critique?

Rough draft:

“On The Waterfront” is a film directed by Elia Kazan about a small town in New Jersey that was being exploited by a small mob during the 1950s where there was one ever important rule to abide by, being deaf and dumb. Terry Malloy did violate society's rule of being D&D, but the major sources of his suffering was through his affiliation with his brother and Johnny Friendly's union, two-edged influence of Edie Doyle, but his intention of breaking the code also contributes to his suffering.

Terry's involvement with Johnny Friendly's union and his brother is the main source of suffering for him. Johnny Friendly governs the Local Longshoremen Union on the waterfront that has eventually been exploited by him and several other men including Terry's brother Charlie and used it for their own benefit. Terry was a great former prizefighter, but he is forced to lose a fight he is capable of winning on purpose all for Johnny Friendly's guarantee of a huge payout after betting on the opponent. Boxing is Terry's soul, his pride and his self-esteem, but his attachment to his brother and the mob meant that he is just a boxer that they could control. Hence, he eventually, but unwillingly accepts his brother's demands and throws away his career. This is demonstrated during the intimate conversation in the taxi where Terry states to Charlie that “I coulda been a contender” and “I coulda been someone” instead of his current label of a “bum.” He isn't a very bright individual due to his lack of education during his childhood. The union takes for granted Terry's education and leads him to do their dirty work which affects Terry's conscience and causes him to continuously feel guilty for his actions, knowing that he was involved in murdering an innocent who is prepared to testify to the Crime Commission.This is shown during the film Kazan used a medium shot to highlight the juxtaposition between Terry and the rest of the mob where Terry feels remorse and has an expression of realisation as to what he has done compared to the mob who is gloating and sneering.After Terry steps up for his own rights and morals and betrayed the union during court, he becomes a target for the mob and he is stripped of his privileges of getting a job on the waterfront. Johnny Friendly makes this clear during court where he threatened Terry that he is a “dead man on every other waterfront” and that he can't go anywhere without one of Friendly's men keeping an “eye on you.” Terry's suffering is caused by the connection to his brother and the union which used him like a pawn.

Edie Doyle acts as a helping hand and changes Terry for the good throughout the film, but she is also a source of distress for him. Edie Doyle is a shy, catholic teacher-in-training who falls for Terry when they meet after escaping from the mob's attack on the church and Terry also falls for her at the same time.Through Edie's influence, Terry conscience is conflicted between what is ultimately right  wrong. Terry has never been exposed to the purity of things which Edie carries with her and causes him to realise the repercussions of his actions and what he is affiliated with. After talking to Edie outside the Church, he claims that “I'm with Terry” when she asks whose side he is on . This shows that Terry is changing but he also struggles to acknowledge what he knows deep in his heart about his brother and the truth about the union. Terry's conscience collides on making decisions between his loyalty toward Edie, the woman he loves or toward his own brother and Johnny Friendly where he will get job security and privileges over everyone else. This is shown when he claims to Father Barry during the walk that he was afraid to confess to Edie about his involvement in her brother's death as he was “scared of drivin' her away” and that he “loves her.” On the flip side, he also states that if he rats on Johnny Friendly, his life “won't be worth a nickel.” Terry struggles ever since realising that she was Joey's little sister as he is split between going to the truth and standing up for what is right or staying loyal to the mob. Edie also continuously attempts to persuade Terry to leave the city to the country where he could live in peace without the mob's presence. This is shown in the film with a medium shot of Edie staring down at Terry in the pigeon coop after his pigeons had been murdered stating that he could do anything “as long as it's away from Johnny Friendly.” Although Edie is advising Terry to not do anything reckless and trying to keep him safe, at the same time she is also holding Terry back from facing up to the important problems. Terry suffers due to Edie's two edged influence throughout the film.

Although Terry suffers from other causes, his suffering is also partially caused by intending to break the code of the waterfront. Residents of the small town that is being exploited by the mob abide by one important rule that ensures their survival, staying deaf and dumb. Terry's intention to break the D&D rule...... tbc.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

Hi Bryan,

I would tease out the first paragraph - Terry's suffering as a result of associating with the mob, and the suffering that ensues as a result of leaving the mob. As for the second paragraph, I would go as far to say that it doesn't answer the question. It seems like you are stretching the question too much - the question is not so much about Terry's suffering in general, but the suffering that results from his association with the mob and the code; and his subsequent departure from the code. A helpful way of thinking about suffering in this prompt is that of mental (guilty conscience) and physical. For example, while Terry suffers in a physical sense (being roughed up; ostracized) as a result of testifying, the mental torment that has plagued him from his previous silence is alleviated, at least to some degree.



I was a student of EDSC. Who is your English teacher? I would take the time time to sit down and speak to him or her about your ideas before writing. It seems like you are still a little unfamiliar about the important themes of the film.

[mixi]

I think you need to revise the themes a bit more:)