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INTERPRETATIONS IN ACTION The enduring qualit ies of ON THE WATERFRONT derive from its inexhaustiblestores of psychological material more than any pretension to social commentary. The confrontation between the mob and the longshoremen is nomore than a moving and motivating background for the profound inner conflicts that beset each characters conscience. These conflicts remain aliveand memorable for us in part because they are our own, and because the filmleaves them deliberately unresolved . Father Barry cannot reconcile personal

principles with church protocol. Edie cannot choose between honouring thememory of her murdered brother and loving the man who betrayed him. Terry Malloy believes until the last moments of the film that he can remainsimultaneously loyal to his brother, his employer, and himself.

(Source: http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/2/95.02.09.x.html )

The events taking place in the lives of the characters in On the Waterfront mean they have alot of issues to deal with. They find themselves in conflict with each other, as well as withinthemselves. Understanding the relationships between the characters, as well as the onesthey have with themselves, is an important part of being able to interpret the text.

Your challenge:

1. Analyse the relationships and conflicts of the characters in the text2. Identify the themes that these conflicts relate to3. Consider your ideas about the conflicts and whether or not they are resolved in the

narrative. Write down your interpretations of the points the text is trying to make bythe way it deals with the conflicts.

4. Put one of your interpretations in action by scripting an extra scene that could havebeen used in On The Waterfront . Use some direct quotes to add authenticity to yourscene. Include an introduction to your scene that explains your perspective before youact it out.

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/2/95.02.09.x.htmlhttp://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/2/95.02.09.x.htmlhttp://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/2/95.02.09.x.htmlhttp://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/2/95.02.09.x.html

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Characters, Themes and Ideas Analysis

1. CHARACTER ANALYSIS TABLES:Focus character: ___________________________

Their job andconnections/relationshipswith other characters

Conflicts that they havewith other characters

Their inner conflicts Quotes

Complete tables for a minimum of four characters

2. THEME IDENTIFICATION USING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE:Consider the conflicts that your character analyses have revealed. Choose a minimum of four themes that they show are being addressed in the text. Write a sentence for eachtheme that explains how it can be seen in the text.

3. IDEAS OF THE TEXT AND INTERPRETATION:

Do you think Terry can ever truly be at peace with the death of his brother? Is it possible for Edie to completely forgive Terry for his involvement in Joeys death? WillTommy and his friends view Terry as a hero for breaking the waterfront code of d andd to expose Johnny Friendly? Etc.

What are your interpretations of the ideas the text raises? In paragraphs, write about three of the conflicts from the text. Explain why you feel they are or are not resolved.What messages or points is Kazan trying to deliver to the viewer through the delivery of the character s stories?

4. INTERPRETATIONS IN ACTION:Demonstrate one of your interpretations of the text by scripting a scene that could havebeen used in the movie. Think about which part of the text it could fit into to help youset the scene. Also, use some direct quotes from the film to develop the scene. If we havetime we might be able to film them to make our own On the Waterfront cut scenes feature.