Cinderella Man Quarterly Assessment

Cinderella Man tells the tale of James J. Braddock as he struggles to maintain his family well fed and alive during the Great Depression. During this sever economic depression, many people lost jobs. This left families starving and cold, having no money to pay for food or heat for their homes. This was portrayed in Cinderella Man. Everyone had to adjust to a new way of living to be able to support themselves and their families.

Although Braddock was not the average working man of the early twentieth century, he still struggled to keep his only source of income. After an injury to his hand, he decided to quit boxing. At this time in his life, he had already made fortunes and lived a life of luxury with his family. The movie then quickly shows how Braddock’s life changes as the Great Depression begins to set in. Braddock is not given frequent job opportunities at the local dock, his power has been turned off, his family is starved, and his kids begin to get ill. All of these factors play a large role in Braddock’s decision when he is given a once in a lifetime chance of returning to the boxing world, if only for one more fight. Braddock rises to the occasion, despite his own health.

The lesson that one can take from Braddock is to never give up and be relentless in ensuring a better future. Braddock never let his injuries stop him from bringing home a few measly dollars for his family. Even when his life is on the line, Braddock smiles and promises endless happy tomorrows to his children. This relates to the Great Depression because many families faced the exact same struggles that Braddock did. But those families refused to give up as well. Parents, both husband and wife, searched tirelessly for job opportunities to support th...

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... He did not care about whether or not he had an audience. He did choose his actions determined on how they’d be viewed by others. He simply put forth his best effort to provide for his family. While he was very kind to his fans, they were not his main priority. James J. Braddock showed integrity in how he handled his difficult situation.

In conclusion, Cinderella Man was not purely a movie viewed for pleasure. Although it was entertaining and full of ebbs and flows of emotion, it taught viewers valuable life lessons that can be carried on through life. One is taught to be tireless in one’s dedication to striving for a better future, along with maintaining a happy family. James J. Braddock represents American’s endless struggle to succeed not only in the 1930’s, but also in modern day America. He was a man of integrity, and Cinderella Man perfectly portrays that.