Symbolism In Whale Rider

Words: 326
Pages: 2
Open Document
The Porourangi’s waka taua boat has great spiritual and physical meaning to the Maori people. Throughout the film Whale Rider, it becomes clear that the Porourangi’s waka taua is symbolic of the old traditional ways and teachings of the Maori people, and how it transitions into the new ways of modern society. Boats on the water are symbolic of rebirth. This is spotted when the old and new tradition are finally merge and the lineage of the family is now accepted. Porourangi’s waka taua when first spotted in the movie is beached. The boat is decayed unpainted and old. The symbolism behind the old and broken boat is the old tradition of the Maori people. Koro, Paikea’s grandfather, is juxtaposed to the boat because they are both old tradition
Show More

Related Documents: Symbolism In Whale Rider

Allegory And Symbolism In Whale Rider's Whale Rider

In the story “Whale Rider”, Koro refuses to acknowledge Paikea as the inheritor of the tradition and states, “is of no use to me”. Koro is very prejudicial and believes only a male is eligible to inherit the role of chief. After the harsh statement made by her grandfather, she joins her father on his trip to Germany, but later chooses to stay with her grandparents when she hears the call of the whales. Koro establishes a school for adolescent boys to develop the skills to choose one of them to become…

Words 375 - Pages 2