Analysis of Great Debaters by Achunulo Esther

AN ANALYSIS OF THE MOVIE: THE GREAT DEBATERS BY ESTHER ACHUNULO

The plot: the explicit plot of this inspiring movie by Denzel Washington, "The Great Debaters," simply seeks the courage to raise your voice in the face of great hatred, opposition and fear and using a voice to fight oppression towards the blacks. The story is potent and serves as a reminder of the volatile politics of the time, when a black man could be attacked for simply owning a suit and a car or even mostly, educated. He has his team of four. Samantha Booke has just transferred to Wiley; Henry who struggles to balance his academic ideals with his hedonistic ways. And James Farmer, Jr. is the 14-year-old son of another Wiley professor.
The Theme: This film possesses a symptomatic meaning in the sense that it presents an ideology of a black man in a white mans world where lynching was common, they found power in words and their own voices. The shots were good, the soundtracks were good and most especially, the opening of the film depicted the typical black which was exceptionally good. The following, are the referential meanings in the movie:
Racial discrimination: this is the major theme of this movie. The whites were great racists and they treated the blacks like they were no human being.
Frustration: lynching was common, they were frustrated by the oppression restricting them, they decided to come forward and reach white America by debating at mostly white schools.
Victory: the victory over the whites by the blacks when Mel Tolson was freed from their custody. Also, the victory from winning the series of debated by Wiley college.
Determination and passion: the debate team was determined and had passion for their black race and wanted to use their debate to solicit for freedom. Also, it took the determination to stand at the face of many whites to defend their black race.
Fear: the fear derived when they were faced by many whites during their debate in Texas.
Hatred: the white had much hatred for the blacks that they wanted to eliminate every single black they find at their community.
Trust and Belief: Henry believed in the potentials of James and decided he gives him a shot of opportunity to explore his knowledge to the world. Also, Tolson hade faith and believed in his students when he left them at the train station when leaving for Harvard. In the movie, that accusation causes him trouble, but he still sidesteps the rumors to remain steadfast in his beliefs.
Formal Expectation:
It is most predictable. Something the viewers will all know is that after a long hardworking preparation for the debates most especially at Harvard, it was all going to be won by Wiley College. Also, one will expect hey were going to lose the debate at Oklahoma City college. It was also predictable that Tolson was still going to be released from the hands of the mobs.
Cheated expectation:
I did not expect James Jr. to win his first debate. Since he was portrayed in the movie as the childish and youngest one, one will expect it to take a lot of hard work for him to win a debate. Also, since this was not only his first time debating, it was also his first time debating in the large audience full of whites.
Also, there was cheated expectation where there debate for Harvard University was changed. One will not expect it to change.
In the movie also, it was not shown how Samantha forgave Henry. The only part that was shown concerning that issue was when she gave him a slap on his face. It was not shown how the quarrel was resolved.
Also, I expected at least a shot of Samantha and Henrys parents or relatives to turn up and expressing their feelings on how proud they are of their children.
Surprise and suspense: The movie was more of suspense than surprise. Suspense is used to delay the fulfillment of an established expectation. It was a surprise when it was found out that Tolson puts himself in increasing danger by acting as a covert labor organizer for local farmers. The suspense in this movie was when they were periodically threatened by lynch mobs especially on their way to Texas when they say a dead man, burnt and left hanging on a tree.
Also, there was great suspense in the debate between Harvard and Wiley College at the end of the movie. There was tension on who was gong to win the debate.
Feelings:
Bitterness: we have the feeling of bitterness on the part of Henry that led to his drunkenness after the experience with the mob. Also, Samantha was also bitter when she found out that Henry went drunk and was with another woman that night.
Pity: the feeling of pity can also be felt on the paths of the blacks. Being quite empathetic, we can understand the situation they went through in the movie.
Joy: the joy of winning in the debate was enough for them. Also, James Jr’s parents were joyful when their son made them proud at the debate at Harvard.
Anger: James father towards him when he returned home late from the homecoming party. Also, James Jr. was angry at the white mobs the time they attacked his family and him which they collected a large sum of money. Also, Henry was angry when he had a misunderstanding with his fellow team mates.
Disappointment: on the part of James when he found out that Henry had something going on with Samantha. Also, a feeling of disappointment when we found out that Samantha slept with Henry. The feeling of disappointment when Tolson found out that Henry came back home drunk a night before their debate when he saw the lynching mob scenario.
Causes an Effect:
The scenario of the lynching when there was on their way at night to Texas for a debate which affected Lowe’s emotionally which led him to drink. He was really bitter that night and decided to pour his bitterness on Liquor.
Also, as a reason of Henry’s hedonistic behavior, Samantha Booke was bitterly hurt and had to quit the debate. So, this now gave James Jr. the opportunity to participate in the debate that was eager to prove his intellectual worth to his demanding father.
Another was the fact that the reason that led to their success in the debate at Texas was when James Jr. concluded by recalling the scenario of the lynching on their way. They were nervous as it was their first time facing a bunch of whites. This was what bailed them out even when it was clear they were going to loose the debate.
Repetition:
Law’s consistent behavior of finding night outs to hang out whenever he is angry or emotionally down. E.g., when he had an argument with the rest of this team mates at Harvard when he decided he handed over the debate to James Jr.
Also, the lines their coach Mel Tolson taught them in their preparation process for all debate they wanted to embark on. Tolson feels he has something to prove and works to build up the school debate team to the highest national standards. During the ruthless tough audition process, students are put on the spot and asked to memorize those lines saying “………………………………
Similarity: there was a slight similarity between the two characters: Henry Lowe and Coach Mel Tolson. These two characters have an attitude of Challenge, brilliance, hedonistic ways. They also possess leadership attributes. E.g., in the part where they were put through a ruthless tough audition process, when students are put on the spot and asked to name and quote major historical figures, Henry seems to be the only one challenging him and also putting him on the spotlight. Henry is by far the most interesting of the three young leads
ACHUNULO ESTHER CHIOMA