“It Is Edie Doyle who is the true hero of On the Waterfront”. Do you agree with this statement?
An isolated community of the struggling longshoremen living under the exploitation of the corrupted union is introduced in one of Elia Kazan’s brilliant works in filmmaking, “On the Waterfront”. The viewers are moderately convinced, by looking at the mere world of brute force and injustice, that someone has to play the heroic role in order to return justice and hope to the working class on this dock. Edie Doyle seems to stand out among the rest as a candidate with her superior quality possessed from her strong Christian values. Likewise, someone like Terry Malloy who being seen as “a bum” by everyone, also manages to lead the longshoremen out of the ruthless dominance of Johnny Friendly in the end therefore earn his statue of a hero. However, as the viewers follow the development of the film, it is realized that Kazan’s notion of heroism is likely to exist as a fulfillment of self-interest and the victory only stops at a level of personal achievement.
Edie Doyle manages to initiate changes in people such as Father Barry and Terry Malloy despite her lack of acknowledge and inexperience of the harsh reality down at the dock. Being fully aware of the danger she might put herself into when she persists her remaining in Hoboken and presses her investigation further to the dark violent world at the dock, yet Edie decides to do so in order to bring back justice for the death of her brother. With her determination and a strong moral code based on religious belief, Edie awakens the dozing self of Father Barry, “a saint hiding in the church”, triggers him to be more progressive in his role of spreading Christian message out to the community. With her support, Father risks his own safety, pledging the longshoremen to go “down the line” with them in the battle with Johnny Friendly in order to restore the initial supporting and protecting figure of the Local Union 374. Likewise, Edie’s kindness and patience has won Terry’s heart, a heart that has experienced nothing before
Edie Doyle manages to initiate changes in people such as Father Barry and Terry Malloy despite her lack of acknowledge and inexperience of the harsh reality down at the dock. Being fully aware of the danger she might put herself into when she persists her remaining in Hoboken and presses her investigation further to the dark violent world at the dock, yet Edie decides to do so in order to bring back justice for the death of her brother. With her determination and a strong moral code based on religious belief, Edie awakens the dozing self of Father Barry, “a saint hiding in the church”, triggers him to be more progressive in his role of spreading Christian message out to the community. With her support, Father risks his own safety, pledging the longshoremen to go “down the line” with them in the battle with Johnny Friendly in order to restore the initial supporting and protecting figure of the Local Union 374. Likewise, Edie’s kindness and patience has won Terry’s heart, a heart that has experienced nothing before