Sociological Issues In Driving Miss Daisy

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Introduction: The comedy movie, Driving Miss Daisy made its debut in 1989. It follows the story of Daisy, a wealthy Jewish white woman who is also a widowed school teacher. The film focuses on the home life, family, friends, concerns and fears of Daisy over a period of twenty-five years (Canby). Through viewing the system of associations and emotions elicited by Miss Daisy we develop a great sense of the love and patience evoked. This film brings out several sociological issues that plague the society. Different cultures and people have diverse perceptions about issues they are going through. A concern viewed as normal by some individuals may be a social issue of significance to another individual. Sociological theories help us understand these concerns and how to deal with them (Dillon 377). Summary: Driving Miss Daisy unfolds over a span of twenty-five years. It tells the story of the two main characters Miss Daisy Werthan, a rich, widowed, Jewish white lady and Hoke Colburn, her newly hired chauffeur. In 1948, Miss Daisy’s son Boolie Werthan decides to hire a chauffeur for his mother as he thinks it is time for his mother to stop driving. Boolie came to this decision because Miss Daisy drives her car down a small embankment while backing out of her garage. Miss Daisy is not up for the idea as she claims servants, a chauffeur in this case, are like children always giving them instructions on what to do. Boolie hires a chauffeur anyway and Miss Daisy and her chauffeur, Hoke Colburn have to learn coexist together. Hoke was previously a chauffeur for a local judge until the judge passed away. The film follows the lives of these two characters as they learn how to exist with each other. Miss Daisy helps Hoke learn how to read afte... ... middle of paper ... .... Conclusion: In conclusion, Driving Miss Daisy is a comedy drama movie that brings out several sociological issues that plague the society. Showcasing the relationship between an old wealthy Jewish woman and her chauffeur who is African American, the film tells us more about the civil rights era with a consistency that delicately explains the rapidly changing society in the deep South. Two theories can be used to explain the many concepts that arise from the film. The social conflict theory and the structural functional theory have both brought out issues such as prejudice, racism and importance of family in the movie. It is important to employ theory to portray the connections between different concepts. This is necessary to help us understand the world as it is. The film explicitly shows how racism, prejudice and the family unit play out and affect the society.

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