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On the Waterfront

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Text Response Practice –On the water front

‘Terry Malloy’s redemption lies in his willingness to sacrifice personal security to facilitate the long term security of a community.’ Discuss this statement

On the Waterfront demonstrates that it is possible for a man to redeem himself through personal sacrifice to atone for his sins. In his 1954 film Elia Kazan creates a character in Terry whose initial motivation is personal and family based, and it is only near the end of the film that Terry becomes aware that he can be a hero for the longshoremen and the entire community. He must grow and develop as a hero of almost mythic stature before the audience, so that they are attracted in the outcome of his struggles.

Terry Malloy is guilty of treachery as he lured the unsuspecting Joey Doyle on to the rooftop where he was murdered by Johnny Friendly’s thugs. Terry was an unwitting accomplice, believing naively that the men were just going to ‘rough him up’. It is evident from early in the film that Terry feels guilt for his involvement and is becoming increasingly uncomfortable with his relationship with Friendly.

It is Edie Doyle who seems to best illustrate the concept of placing the wellbeing of others before her own personal security. She ventures into the harsh male domain of the docks, inspires Father Barry to organize a clandestine meeting in the church and makes herself vulnerable as the only woman who attends that meeting. She is ferocious in her pursuit of justice for her brother and refuses to be sent back to safety with the nuns at St Anne’s convent. Even Terry warns her to stop her search for Joey’s killer. “I’m telling you it ain’t safe”.

Under the guidance of Father Barry and Edie Terry begins to develop a conscience. Faced with the choice of remaining “D and D” or testifying at the Crime Commission he is torn between his loyalty to

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