On The Waterfront Essay Example For Students

On The Waterfront Essay Word Count: 523Terry Malloy as a HeroWhen Terry Malloy was first introduced, he did not make any indications that he would strive for the respect that he gained throughout the story. His tough-guy behavior and compassionate attitude has made him what he is: a hero. He never revealed what he was truly made of or what he was capable of. He always had low self-esteem about himselfrepeatedly calling himself a bum. Despite his stubbornness to change and his ignorance to others, Malloy proves himself by doing what he knows is right to be a true hero. Throughout the whole film, Malloy displayed himself as a bum. He rarely works, and he is a has-been boxer. Others occasionally criticize him about his boxing career; explaining to him that he was no good. Because a lot of the criticism got to Terrys head, he was unable to associate with others. This proves so with the relationship he has with Edie Doyle. He is barely able to hold the relationship with Edie, even though she is the one whom Terr y loves so much. Up to this point, Malloy does not display himself as a hero, or even close to being one. On the docks work was on a first come first serve basis. Friends of the mob was given good easy jobs while the other work tokens were thrown on the ground and the men would fight for them. Characters The main character is Terry an ex semi-professional boxer who became friendly with the mob during his career. He is a common unintelligent man (typical of his town) that unlike his brother quit school. He was the man that helped the mob kill a good man in the opening scene by distracting him to come onto the roof and check out his pigeons (Symbolic). His brother keeps the mobs papers. The Antagonist is the mob boss named Johnny who blames poverty for causing him to transform into a crook and murderer. It is either make no money or make money. They live like animals in a Social Darwinism. The other main actor is the sister of the murder victim named Iddie. She comes from a totally sheltered life, growing up in a catholic school raised by nuns. She refuses to return to school because she wants to face a real problem, not just read about them. She also wants to find out who killed her brother. The priest plays the role of the godly guiding force that directs the characters to tell the truth and to stand up to the evil forces of the mob. They wont be beat by saying silent he rallies them to stand up. He also directs Terry do confess to Iddie about her brother. Final Outcome After truly listening to the priests speeches and looking around his town a realizing that staying quiet is not going to get anyone any better conditions. He truly came to grip that he was a nothin g because of the mob and everyone else was also being held down because of this. He could have been a champion boxer but he fell because of the mobs bet. After thinking about the outcome he decided to confess to the c..ase of Iddies brother and to come forward and be a witness to all the injustices that were done to the innocent people of Waterfront. Now that he became the pigeon and sang everyone in town no longer knew him or talked to him he was an untouchable. The next day at the docks the mob mentioned that today everyone would be given a chance to work and no more fighting over tokens. All workers were given jobs but him. He went to meet Johnny and to let him know what he felt. In front of all the others town workers he told Johnny and his gang that he was happy about his confession and he is proud that he is talking their fists off of innocent peoples back. Then a fight started and the workers wanted to join in yet their fear was still set in. While