...Vander Burgt HRE-4M 3 October 2011 Antwone Fisher, Determined or Free? The film Antwone Fisher is an autobiographical drama based on the true story of Antwone Fisher’s problematic days growing up. Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke) is a sailor in the U.S. Navy with an explosive attitude, whom is ordered to see a naval psychiatrist, Dr. Jerome Davenport (Denzel Washington), about his volatile temper. Slowly Fisher begins to reveal the emotional problems that ultimately trigger this rage. The viewer learns that Antwone’s father was killed and his mother, subsequently ended up arrested and giving birth to Antwone in prison. Soon after, Antwone was sent to a foster home managed by Mr. And Mrs. Tate (Ellis Williams and Novella Nelson) where he was physically and mentally abused. The only support he received was from his best friend, Jesse (Jascah Washington) During his sessions, Antwone develops feelings for a fellow Naval officer, Cheryl (Joy Bryant) and starts to treat Dr. Davenport as the father figure he never had. Ultimately, Fisher begins the quest to find his real family with his newly found girlfriend, Cheryl. While viewing the film, one may begin to question whether Antwone is a product of free will or social determinism. Through Antwone’s past; the frequent abandonment from close one’s, consistent abuse in foster care and the lack of a supporting family, it is visible that Antwone is a product of social determinism. All in all, Antwone Fisher is eccentric and emotional due...
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...Antwone Fisher’s Theoretical Analysis And Application 1. Antwone Fisher’s character as a child displayed him experiencing the verbal, physical, sexual and mental abuse. He went from young boy growing up in a dysfunctional environment, to say the least. As Antwone matured into adulthood it became more apparent that the process of his childhood development was frustrated and he had not developed his distinct sense of self. Carl Roger’s client-centered theory states that as infants grow they develop a sense of self with ideas of whom they are and who they would like to be and through the approval from others, they will develop a positive self-regard (Schultz and Schultz, 2009). In Antwone’s story his experiences were very much the opposite. He grew into his idea self with client-center therapy and he learned to become a fully functioning person. He went from having a poor concept of self to becoming self-actualized and developed self-worth and dignity. Antwone’s journey to confront his pain permitted him to become emotionally healthy. It is believed that as a child Antwone suffered from the debilitating fear in by large was from what he experienced regularly with in his environment. The constant hoping and wishing that his mother would come someday to save him from the atrocities he was enduring would lead one to assume that he suffered incurably. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that's triggered by a traumatic...
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...Antwone Fisher 10/27/2012 Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist, stated the first stage of human development is one of the most important. Because an infant is entirely dependent upon his or her caregivers, the quality of care plays an important role in the shaping of the child’s personality. In the case of Antowne Fisher, with his unfortunate circumstance of the death of his father and the incarceration of his mother, he lacked the care and love only parents can provide. However, once he entered the foster care system, Mrs. Nellie Strange, a savior of sort and his foster mother, became the tool in his development through the first stage of Erickson’s stages of development. It is evident within the first stage of development; trust versus mistrust. “…The major emphasis is on the mother’s positive and loving care for the child…if we pass successfully through this period of life, we will learn to trust that life is basically okay and have basic confidence in the future” (Harder, 2003). During this time period of Antwone’s life, in contrast to what is to occur in the future, it should be addressed the profound care and attention he received from Mrs. Strange. His foster mother, Mrs. Nellie Strange, showed the genuine care and love a true mother envelopes her child in. The attachment of Mrs. Nellie to Antwone and his trust for his foster mother was evident as she begged to keep while Antwone “…let out a lust yell…” as he was removed from her...
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...The mental state of a person is a complex thing. It is also a fragile thing that can be bended, damaged, and maybe even broken. Many people do become broken, but that is not the story of Antwone FIsher. He overcame his demons. The movie detailing Fisher’s life primarily tells the story of a man in the navy who struggles with authority while “breaks” in the present narrative tells of the man’s childhood. Each segment of his life leaves a lasting effect on Fisher, for better or worse. The first and most prominent problem Fisher has is his anger. Due to it, he attacked an officer and was sent to a therapist as punishment. This behavior can most likely be attributed to his feelings of helplessness as a child. He was powerless against his foster...
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