The Ground-breaking Movie, Philadelphia

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The movie Philadelphia portrays the struggles and eventual passing of Tom Hanks’ character Andrew Beckett as he battles AIDS. According to the textbook, “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the body’s immune system” (Santrock, 2009). Andrew faces problems not only with his contraction of AIDS, but also with society’s ignorance of the disability. Throughout the movie, instances of prejudice and discrimination can be seen but are ultimately overcome. Two opposing lawyers have to come together to fight injustice, and through the process their friendship grows deeper than either of them could have ever imagined.

Andrew is a middle-aged white male who works for the largest law firm in Philadelphia. He lives with his partner, Miguel, in a studio apartment in the city. The developmental tasks for middle adulthood include keeping the marriage going, managing the household, managing a career, and parenting. Andrew was very busy working at his job, and did not have much time for a social life. One can see examples of Erikson’s stages of development for this age period, generativity versus stagnation. A sense of generativity is felt when a person in middle adulthood focuses on producing something valuable for future generations and contributes to society. Conversely, stagnation involves being self-centered and lacking interest in helping society. Andrew was determined to seek justice for all of his clients at the law office. He seemed like he had achieved a sense of generativity because he was making a change in Philadelphia.

The most significant way that AIDS influenced Andrew’s development was the impact on his life expectancy. A person infected with HIV/AIDS currently...

... middle of paper ...

...., Cherry, C., & Kalichman, M.O. (2011). Integrated behavioral intervention to

improve HIV/AIDS treatment adherence and reduce HIV transmission. American Journal of Public Health, 101(3), Retrieved March 9, 2011 from http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.ezproxy.bu.edu/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.44

Maslin, J., (1993, December 22). Philadelphia; Tom Hanks as an AIDS victim who fights the

establishment. [review of the movie Philadelphia]. The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2011 from http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE1DC163CF931A15751C1A965958260

Demme, J., Saxon, E. (Producers), Demme, J. (Director). December 24, 1993. Philadelphia

[Motion picture]. United States: TriStar Pictures.

Santrock, J.W. (2009). Life-span development (12th ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill

Companies, Inc.

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