Discussion Questions: 1. To what extent is Terry’s contradictory nature explained by his upbringing?. * Terry doesn’t particularly care about work and instead devotes his dreams, energy, and care to his racing pigeons. After being pushed around for too long, however, he realizes that his actions have definite, provable results. * Brando shuffles around and affects such mannerisms as looking away from the person with whom he’s speaking, putting his hand nervously behind his head, or stuffing his hands in his pockets. Often, his focus seems misplaced, leaving us to wonder what’s going on deep inside his mind. For example, he plays with his jacket’s zipper while he learns what happened to Joey Doyle, and he fiddles with a piece of dust after Charlie pulls a gun in the cab. Malloy has a lot going on in the parts of his mind that we are never privy to. * As the film progresses, Brando’s physicality shifts, which indicates a shift in Malloy’s priorities and objectives. In Malloy’s final stand on the docks, when he wears Joey Doyle’s jacket, he stands more confidently, with few nervous gestures. He looks around him calmly, not fearfully as he would have earlier. He talks instead of whines. His gum-chewing is cockier. * Terry’s transformation is not wholly self-induced, but rather brought on by a string of revelations and events, including his misunderstood role in Joey Doyle’s death, his growing awareness of Edie’s love and his love for her, Father Barry’s pressing care, and the murders of Dugan and Charlie. There are so many factors working on Terry’s character, in fact, that we’re left wondering how much of a “choice” Terry Malloy really has after all.
2. What might Terry’s fear of the city’s hawks symbolise? * Terry sees himself threatened by the power of Jonny Friendly, he says that “You know this city is full of hawks… they hand around on top of the big hotels, they spot a pigeon – then they’re right down on top of them.”
3. How does Fr. Barry contribute to Terry’s decision to testify again Johnny Friendly?
4. Why is it significant that Fr. Barry refuses to hear Terry’s confession? * Terry’s “confession” to Father Barry takes place outside of the church. Even though Terry wants to talk to Father Barry inside the church, the machinations of the plot draw them outside to the waterfront. This location shades the scene: Terry’s confession, Kazan is saying, is not a religious one. Merely speaking will not absolve Terry of any sins, and only action will alleviate his guilt. Father Barry is not a Catholic mentor to Terry but a mentor of the soul. The waterfront becomes a living, breathing part of his confession. * In the scene.
Terry and Father Barry, with Edie emerging at the very end of the scene. Inspired by the sermon made by Father Barry at the hull, Terry confesses to him that he was involved in the conspiracy. Terry's back is towards the audience at the beginning of the scene in and outside the Church. This manifests the importance of Father Barry's reactions to Terry's confession, in which he is taken aback by the sudden open admittance, however still shows a sense of caring and gratification towards his bravery. Following the confession, Terry and Father Barry are viewed side-by-side to indicate that they are now on the same level of understanding, in contrast to the very beginning of the scene when Father Barry kept shoving Terry away. This positioning and understanding between the characters shows the important role that Father Barry undertakes as Terry's moral guide, actuating him to confess to Edie.
Camera angles.
A medium shot is used on both the characters when walking in the park outside the Church. This shot shows the detail of the physical action that depicts Terry's growth as a character. It shows his determination to redeem himself as he keeps pulling back Father Barry who shoves him away several times not wanting to hear his confession. This is in stark
