It’s a typical October afternoon in picturesque New York City. You are on wall street waiting to see how your investments turned out. The closing bell rings and immediately, panic ensues. The day that everyone thought was impossible happened: the stock market crash. For millions of Americans this seemed like the end of the road. Unfortunately, the market nor economic conditions wouldn’t get any better as now, the Great Depression was in full spring. As roughly a quarter of Americans were now out of work, people lost their identities. One of these people was a boxer named James J. Braddock. Before the depression, Braddock was widely regarded as the next big thing for the sport. However, Braddock’s career fell off a cliff after the crash as he …show more content…
lost a good portion of his wealth as his life hit a downward spiral. This looked like the end of the road for the “Pride of New Jersey.” But surprisingly, Braddock still had some gas left in the tank. This comeback was depicted in 2005 film Cinderella Man. The film Cinderella Man started with a now washed up boxer in James Braddock who is attempting to carry his family through the worst economic epoch in the history of the world: the Great Depression. When Braddock gets an opportunity to fight again, he takes the fight in a heartbeat. The fight was against “Corn” Jones in what turned out to be a victory for Braddock. Braddock would ride this victory to win two more fights which would set up a fight for the heavyweight belt against Max Baer. Leading up to the fight, Jimmy’s wife, Mae, was growing nervous about the fight as Baer previously killed two people in a ring. The fight was action-packed going the distance in which Braddock won in an unanimous decision by the judges. Is the constructed reality of the film a true representation of the historical, non-fictional account of The Great Depression and the life of James Braddock? For the most part, this film was extremely historically accurate as Braddock did indeed endure the struggles portrayed in the film. Even the fights were extremely accurate, even up to the play by play. One complaint I have about the historical accuracy is the representation of Max Baer. Baer was portrayed as a remorseless, ruthless, bad boy who only cared about his success in the ring. In actuality, Baer was a kindhearted fighter who was living with repentance after killing two people in the ring. In fact, his family attempted to stop the film from hitting theaters as they believed the film was doing a disservice to the Baer family by portraying Max in such a way. Why was James Braddock a symbol of hope for the masses of unemployed and poor Americans during the Great Depression? James Braddock was a symbol of hope for many Americans because he was a relatable figure. Having endured a number of the struggles that people endured due to the Great Depression, Braddock didn’t take his opportunity for granted as he was very vocal about where he was during the peak of the depression. By doing this, he was extremely relatable to numerous Americans. As he climbed the ladder to the top, he became known as an underdog which resulted in more people supporting him, making him a fan favorite. As many were both envious and emphasizing with Braddock, he only gained more supporters making him the Cinderella Man we know him as today. Throughout the movie, what specific problems were James Braddock and his family facing as a result of the Great Depression? How did they work to overcome these and how did James change throughout the course of the movie? During the film, Braddock was directly affected by the onslaught of the depression. Having lost his job, his family was struggling to get by leading to Braddock turning to the state asking for loans. Additionally, Braddock was forced to play the lottery by showing up to the docks, looking for work. The climax of these struggles was when Mae brought their children to a relatives so they can have a desirable place to stay. Braddock overcame these struggles by working his tail off both in and out of the ring leading him to becoming both more humble and hardworking. This change is seen in Braddock during his climb to the top of boxing as he took extra time to be appreciative for what he had and of the opportunity that was presented to him to reenter the boxing world. Choose two (2) of the themes listed above and explain both how they were portrayed in the movie, and why, as a result of the Great Depression, it was important for them to be there.
One of the main themes of Cinderella Man is overcoming adversity. Facing some of the most challenging obstacles, both literally and figuratively, Braddock always found a way to weather the storm and wind up on top. This is due to his determination which is exemplified in the following quote; “I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.” This quote is a testament to the working ethic of Braddock and his determination to make sure that both him and his family turn out O.K. Another quote which speaks to Braddock overcoming adversary explains how he doesn’t take this opportunity for granted. “You think you're telling me something? Like, what, boxing is dangerous, something like that? You don't think working triple shifts and at night on a scaffold isn't just as likely to get a man killed? What about all those guys who died last week living in cardboard shacks to save on rent money just to feed their family, 'cause guys like you have not quite figured out a way yet to make money off of watching that guy die? But in my profession - and it is my profession - I'm a little more fortunate.” This quote explains how he understands the magnitude of his comeback and that he is embracing it. Another theme which is prominent in Cinderella Man is the trying times of the Great Depression. The Depression leaves a giant footprint on the entire film, dictating the entire storyline. This is especially noticeable during the beginning of the movie when Braddock is begging for money to his former boxing associates. “The thing is I can't afford to pay the heat and I had send my kids to live with relatives, they keep cutting shifts down at the dock, you just don't get picked every day, I sold everything I got to anybody who would buy, I went on public assistance at the relief office, they gave
me nineteen dollars, I need another eighteen dollars and thirty eight cents so I can pay the heating bill and get the kids back, you all know me well enough to know, if I had anywhere else to go I wouldn't be here, if you could help me through this time I would surely be grateful.” This quote highlights the extremity of the depression and how desperate Braddock was to provide for his family. Cinderella Man was a film with many themes which were put together to provide the viewer with a thought provoking film. One of my favorite sports to watch is boxing. I believe that nothing can beat an action packed, down to the wire fight with everything to lose. Coming into this film, I had high expectations as I was a fan of the sport. However, I was left a little disappointed. I believe this film was trying to be too many things and was left as a pedestrian film, with no identity. One of the biggest downfalls of this film to me was the focus on the relationship of Mae and Jimmy. I believed that this was unnecessary as the bulk of the storyline was focused on his rise to the top of the boxing world, not his love life. I would not say that I dislike this film but I wouldn’t go out on a limb and say I did like it. It was overall pretty average, something that the story of James Braddock is not.
First, in the book Game Changers, the main character Ben faces adversity. Ben is a short little league baseball player who gets hit by a blazing-fast fastball. Since this has been first time ever being hit by a ball, he is now scared of every pitcher he faces. Ben has overcome adversity by “deciding to man-up and not be scared of the baseball”. The next time Ben overcomes adversity is when he is in a massive hitting slump (which means he’s not getting base hits in baseball). Ben shows “perseverance by not giving up like many kids would”. Ben eventually battles his way out of the slump. This is just another example of overcoming adversity.
If you went off on a quest would you come back a changed person? “The Hero’s Journey isn’t just a pattern from myth. It’s the pattern of life, growth, and experience for all of us”(Harris and Thompson 49). Charles Portis is the author of True Grit, a western novel that takes place through the Indian Territory in Arkansas. In the novel True Grit, the character Mattie Ross, shows an interesting example of “The Hero’s Journey.” As we read we learn she is very outspoken and strong willed, she always wants things to be her way. Mattie shows us a great example of being very independent at the age of fourteen, but after her journey does she truly change as a person?
Or, the use of the body can suggest that life was tough during the Great Depression. For example, when Braddock was comforting his son after he was caught stealing, the viewers can get a good reference of people's well being from the surroundings. People were laying sleeping on streets and most of them had very poor posture or were slouching. It is simple to comprehend that they are miserable. In addition, in the scene when Braddock was in line for relief money, the people around him had very grim expressions. Their shoulders were sagged and their heads were down. Body language of the surrounding people make the Cinderella Man setting look like real life
James J. Braddock possesses an enticing story of overcoming obstacles and denying defeat. Braddock was an amateur boxer before 1929 and was fairly successful. After the Stock Market Crash his career took a downturn. He lost many matches and crushed his right hand. Later, desperate for money, he participates in another match. Surprisingly he wins and becomes next in line to fight the heavyweight champion Max Baer. In a great upset he defeats the defending heavyweight champion. James Braddock’s story is told in the film: The Cinderella Man. The Cinderella Man refrains from adding inaccurate thematic elements and accurately portrays James J. Braddock’s life, his boxing career, and the Great Depression.
“The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us…The hero journey is a symbol that binds …. (Phil Cousineau).” Mattie Ross learns this in True Grit, by Charles Portis, when she experiences the death of her father. She says, ”…Tom Chaney shot my father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas and robbed him of his life and his horses and $150 in cash money plus two California gold pieces that he carried in his trouser band(11)”. Frank Ross, Matties’ father, who was shot to death, by a man named, Tom Chaney. Mattie Ross is just 14 years old in the 1870’s, she states, “Nothing is free in this world except the grace of god, you must pay for everything.(pg?)” Personal growth often comes at a great expense. She is in beginning of the separation stage in a hero’s journey, which consists of the call and threshold. Harris and Thompson define the call as, “…invites the initiate into the adventure, offers her the opportunity to face the unknown, an imbalance or injustice in her life”(50). Her father getting killed and Mattie getting vengeance, is her invite. This is followed by, the threshold, known as the jumping off point. She states, “We hit the river running…we came out some little ways down the river.”(107) She has now made it into the Choctaw Nation to assist in the pursuit, in the unknown world, “a different world full of dangers and challenges (Harris and Thompson 50)”. Next, is the initiation and transformation then, the return to the known world. You can see, Mattie encounters her call when her father was killed.
Cinderella Man is the story of James J. Braddock, a struggling boxer who was faced with many hardships during the great depression, and learned to overcome these obstacles to provide for his family. Cinderella Man illustrates the journey of how James Braddock became a hero for his family. His quest is driven solely by his will to provide for his family. The Hero’s Quest can be categorized into 3 steps: Departure, Initiation, and Return.
This is a story of an individual who beat the odds and achieved worldwide recognition for his relentless pursuit to overcome the everyday struggles of the Great Depression. Mrs. Hannigan was a heavy drinker, and therefore, she cared less about everything. In class, we learned about how many people were kicked out of their jobs because the jobs didn’t have enough money to pay them. Rather than help him, the boxing place kicked James out.
“Make the best o’ things the way you find ‘em, says I-that’s my motto. This ain’t no bad thing that we’ve struck here-plenty grub and an easy life-come, give us your hand, duke, and let’s all be friends” (Twain 124). Although this excerpt was taken from a con man in the story, it is an important quotation that is not to be overlooked. Twain wrote characters that have all faced oppression, such as Huck growing up with a complicated family life, or Jim who isn’t even treated as a human. But they all overcame their adversity, had remarkable attitudes, and found their personal freedom within the raft. Huck has had a childhood that has been anything but ordinary. He starts out in the home of the Widow Douglas and her sister who both try to civilize
In sports, there is no shortage of black success stories. Meanwhile, two black men of prominence in Odessa (who are not athletes) fell from grace. Willie Hammond Jr. (the first black city councilor and county commissioner) and Laurence Hurd (a minister and desegregation supporter) were glimmers of hope for the black community that were both snuffed out. Hammond was arrested on charges of arson conspiracy and perjury and Hurd is in prison for burglary and robbery, leaving a hole in the morale of the black community that was not repaired. These losses, combined the with negative news of black people circulated via media, made the possibility of succeeding in a white man’s world inconceivable. Yet, there is no shortage of black success stories in sports, like Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson; in every area that is not a “rich man’s sport”, black athletes dominate. To the poor children on the Southside, there is something very alluring about the “Cinderella stories” of men from poor black neighborhoods rising to prominence through sports. Based on these examples, there seem to only be two paths for a black teen to take: criminal or athlete. Many of these teens aspire to be sports stars and depend on nothing else because there is nothing else. Some may become the superstars they hope to be or they fall into ruin as Boobie Miles, Derric Evans, and Gary Edwards
The mold of the heroic template is evident throughout various types of media. Within movies, novels, and poems the hero’s journey is present. Of course, not every piece of literature or movie follows the cycle. However, the idea of the monomyth arose from Joseph Campbell. He wrote his own book, The Hero of a Thousand Faces, within his writing he describes that heroes’ follow the same basic procedure throughout their quest(s). This is where the idea of the hero monomyth arose. In Michael Lewis’s novel, The Blind Side, he portrays “The heroic monomyth.” The Blind Side consists of the basic characters and archetypes that accurately reflect the heroic template.
The Great Depression of the 1930’s caused widespread poverty, but the popular culture of the time did not reflect this. People wanted to escape from this harsh time so movies, dancing and sports became very popular. Radios broadcasted boxing matches and boxers became stars. The heavyweight champion James J. Braddock aka “Cinderella Man,” gained popularity. James Braddock gained fame by winning many fights and proving everyone wrong when they said he was too old and couldn’t win.
We all are heroes of our own story, and it is a quality seen in many movies and books. The hero's journey is about progress and passage. This journey involves a separation from the unknown, known world, and a series of phases the hero must go through . Each stage of the journey must be passed successfully if the person is to become a hero. In “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, the main character Amir faces a series of trials and goes through obstacles where the concept of his childhood dies. Amir's mother passes away during his birth, and his left with the suspicion that his father blames him for her death. Amir longes for his father's attention and approval, but does not receive any affection as a son. He grows up with his Hazara best friend, Hassan. In Afghanistan culture, Hazaras are considered lower class and inferiors in society. Amir describes his friendship with Hassan saying, “then he would remind us that there was a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast, a kinship that not even time could break." (20). Amir first refuses the call of action due to being afraid of the adventure ahead of him. Call to action is the very first step of the hero's journey, where the hero is disrupted and the
The documentary, “Unforgivable Blackness” directed by Ken Burns casts light on the extraordinary life story of legendary boxer Jack Johnson. The documentary is about the barriers Jack Johnson had to overcome to satisfy his hunger for becoming the best and living “The American Dream.” Johnson had humble beginnings in Galveston, Texas and it was in those beginnings that glimpses of his bright future were slowly but surely beginning to show. Through out his life, he showed independence, relentlessness, ability to improvise, call attention to himself and get around rules meaning to tie him down. Jack Johnson was a self made man who had the drive to go forward and achieve what he wanted to achieve through hard work, patience and all the skills he was blessed with.
..., and many times in literature such as in Golden Boy, both the play and movie, athletes perform for the hope to be recognized by their coach. The drive for an athlete to succeed is affected by the player’s relationship with their coach. For Rosie, Peter was a handsome coach she was attracted to, but wasn’t always there when she needed him. Because Rosie was looking for more attention, she invested herself into Luther who became a second “coach” and took his advice to improve her skills. In Golden Boy, Joe Bonaparte proved he could fight having no prior experience as a professional boxer. Joe had the motivation and the will-power to gain attention from the doubtful Tom Moody and proved himself a true fighter knocking a man dead. Rosie and Joe both wanted a chance to succeed in their athletic careers and their relationships with their coaches enhanced the opportunity.
Today, it is seen that during the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt had led America out of the economic disparity throughout his bold actions and promises that fueled the hearts of numerous Americans. However, President Roosevelt was not the only figure to be considered as the ‘hero’ that swept the country out of its misery. There were several people who helped contribute to the change in America’s culture and to the improvement in society. During the Great Depression, two notorious, lovestruck criminals, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, had lasting impacts on much of the nation’s law enforcement, society’s values, and the growth levels of entertainment and economy. Together, the couple led several Americans out of the Great Depression