The film On the Waterfront was written by Budd Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan. The film is about corruption and union violence among the longshoremen. The key actors of the film include Marlon Brando who stars as Terry Malloy, Rod Steiger who stars as Charley, Eva Marie Saint who stars as Edie, Lee J. Cobb who stars as Johnny Friendly, and Karl Malden who stars as Father Barry. The film highlights key incidences of corruption, murder, and ruthlessness among the longshoremen as they went about their normal activities. This story highlights the significance of family loyalty in the lives of different individuals. Firstly, the union acted as a typical family among the longshoremen, loyalty to this family was significance as it promoted their survival as they undertook their daily operations. Secondly, the film highlights the fact that family loyalty is significant because it facilitates the development of trust in an individual. For instance, Charley is largely trusted by Friendly in financial dealings due to his loyalty to the family that had been created. Lastly, family loyalty is significant because it facilitates moral transformation among individuals. For instance, Edie’s loyalty to his brother and subsequent relationship with Terry transforms Terry morally.
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This essay explicates the significance of family loyalty according to the film On the Waterfront.
According to the film, family loyalty plays a significant role in ensuring the survival of individuals. For instance, the union that longshoremen paid money to was in form of a family. The movie indicates that the longshoremen had to remain loyal to the union because they had to rely on it for continued survival. Burden (2010) asserts that the union was led by a tyrannical leader, who was a representation of a harsh parent who is feared by even his own children. The union was instrumental in ensuring that the longshoremen accessed most of their basic needs despite being led by a tyrannical leader who made decisions according to what he deemed right. Those who were loyal to the union stood to benefit and could survival at all instances because they did not face even a shred of victimization from the union. Those who did not approach the union with a high level of loyalty found it hard to survive because of the denial of significant rights. In fact, some of the longshoremen had to face death in cases where they betrayed the union. For example, Joey Doyle has to suffer death due to disloyalty and non-commitment to the union. Loyalty to the family is vital because it ensures that there is continued existence among all individuals who are able to follow the instructions that are set.
The film also asserts that family loyalty is significant because it leads to the development of trust in an individual. For instance, the film indicates that Charley is Friendly’s brain and is trusted with the financial dealings of the union due to his immeasurable loyalty. Charley is an acolyte and has pledged a significant level of allegiance to the union. It is loyalty that grants him the high level of trust from Friendly whom everyone had assumed as a rough leader who did not care about any individual. Family loyalty is significant in ensuring that an individual earns a high level of trust from others because of the belief that he cannot let the family down. According to Braudy (2005), the individual is highly trusted because of the belief that he would be instrumental in promoting the interests of the family and keeping any confidential information from outsiders. The film brings to light the view that family loyalty is the through to earn trust from parents and even other family members. The trust that is earned by individuals is significant in ensuring that they access most of the benefits that the family has to offer. For instance, Charley was one of the key beneficiaries of the union because of his continued loyalty and dedication in the performance of his duties. This was also boosted by the trust that he had been endowed with.
Family loyalty is also significant in promoting the moral transformation of individuals. According to the film, Edie Doyle was always known as an avenging angel in most of the instances that she interacted with people. She defied the odds of her gender as she fought for the truth about the death of her brother. The movie indicates that Edie’s loyalty to her brother and her subsequent relationship with Terry was a catalyst in transforming Terry’s behaviour. Terry decides to be morally transformed because of the family loyalty that was building within him. In fact, he works under the guide of Father Barry and confesses his past evils. It is asserted that Father Barry becomes a paternal guide to Terry. The family loyalty that exists within Terry enables him to confess to Edie and is willing to testy before the Commission of inquiry relating to the death of Edie’s brother. It must be noted that it is only through loyalty that an individual can be understood well by others. Schulberg & Silverman (2001) assert that Terry had to swallow his pride and ensure that he was loyal enough in order to facilitate the discovery of the truth about Doyle’s death. In cases where he could have not been loyal, he could not have complied with the guidance giving by Father Barry and this would have hidden all the evidence pertaining to the murder.
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In conclusion, the film On the Waterfront was written by Budd Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan. The film highlights the story of corruption and violence among the longshoremen. The key individuals that star in the film include Marlon Brando who stars as Terry Malloy, Rod Steiger who stars as Charley, Eva Marie Saint who stars as Edie, Lee J. Cobb who stars as Johnny Friendly, and Karl Malden who stars as Father Barry. According to the film, family loyalty could be extremely significant in the lives of different individuals. Firstly, the union acted as a typical family among the longshoremen, loyalty to this family was significance as it promoted their survival as they undertook their daily operations. Loyalty to this family ensures that there was automatic gain among members. Those who betrayed the union were subsequently murdered. Secondly, the film highlights the fact that family loyalty is significant because it facilitates the development of trust in an individual. Charley earns trust from Friendly due to his allegiance and commitment to the union. Lastly, family loyalty helps Terry to transform morally as he discloses information relating to the murder of Edie’s brother.