Symbolism In Moonlight

Barry Jenkin’s Moonlight is a coming-to-age film that depicts on a young man’s battle with his sexuality ad masculinity. The film takes a journey through various chapters of his life, ranging from his child hood to who he becomes as an adult. Moonlight is a very lucrative film in terms of symbolism and foreshadowing. The film is dripping in ironies and obvious tones related to symbols. There is depth in each character, and within each of their grasp is their identity and how their relationship with the main character shaped him in ways positive and negative. The main character Chiron is a dynamic character that has a colorful identity, though contrary to his quiet demeanor. His now alone has substance of symbolism; though called Chiron, it’s pronounced Shy-rone- fitting his cool, shy and coy nature. His name changes though out the film, from “Little”, “Black”, to “faggot”. Depending on who was addressing him determine his identity for that moment. Chiron, throughout his childhood and adolescence, is surrounded by signs that if

The scene where he is sitting in the counsellor’s office after getting beaten up by bullies reveals his true inner battle with himself. The school counsellor suggests that had Chiron been stronger and defended himself, it would be the other "knuckleheads" sitting in her office and not him. Chiron breaks down in tears because the necessity of machismo and strength keeps getting hammered into him. Following his sensitive break down, his character changes again, it’s as if he made a decision to fall into societies harden gender role of men. The scene where he hits the bully with a chair is the beginning of a downward spiral for Chiron. He lives the next decade suppressing his true self and his sexuality, and instead, adopts the superficial attributes of strength and masculinity that he's been