On the Waterfront-characters - Year12VCE

Taking a look at the characters

*Hoboken Docks

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*The protagonist of the film *A former prizefighter *Inside, he’s tender and conflicted *He communicates through long silences and seething outbursts *Falls in love with Edie Doyle

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*Sister of Joey Doyle & daughter of “Pops” Doyle *Catholic teacher-in-training *Helps Terry to reclaim his conscience *Sexuality is crucial in her involvement with Terry, and their attraction grows, in part, because they are physical opposites

*Edie’s loyalty to her brother is the driving motivation for all her actions

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*Catholic priest *Father Barry remains steadfast to one

overriding mission: administering the word of God by advocating peaceful resistance

*his development parallels Terry’s—he

becomes active rather than passive and begins to acknowledge his own potential effectiveness

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*Corrupt leader of the Longshoreman Local Union

*Money and power are his motivations *Initially, Friendly comes across as powerful *After Terry Malloy speaks out to the Waterfront Crime Commission and effectively strips Friendly of all his power, Friendly becomes pitiable

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*Terry’s brother *Second in command to Johnny Friendly *Always exhibits concern for Terry’s well-being *becomes increasingly desperate to figure out how to maintain his loyalties to opposing parties.

*Is murdered by Friendly’s goons

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*A longshoreman who

testifies to the Waterfront Crime Commission & is murdered for it

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*Edie & Joey’s father *Has worked on the docks for 4 decades

*His only concern is for his daughter, Edie

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*The pier boss who

dispatched the work tabs each morning

*Remains loyal to Johnny Friendly

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*A Waterfront Crime Commission officer

*His questioning of Terry on the

rooftop proves his understanding of Terry’s dilemma

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*The boy who hangs out

around the pigeon coops & idolises Terry

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*Edie’s brother *Only seen from his apartment window

*A young longshoreman who is

coerced up onto the roof by Terry for a “discussion” with Johnny Friendly’s goons

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*Write a response of approximately 400

words, using appropriate examples and quotes (if possible), to this statement.

*Terry Malloy is a complex character. We perceive him, at first, as a man without a conscience. Throughout the course of the film Terry is transformed and, ultimately, redeems himself. Discuss the role of other characters in his redemption.