The Color Purple And Schindler's List

Controlling Authority Figures Steven Spielberg uses authority figures to emphasize a clear relationship between high and low powered characters to draw out the theme that the figure with higher power doesn’t necessarily control the character with less power. Spielberg shows this theme gradually in the movies The Color Purple and Schindler’s List. He shows the relationships between the characters of different statuses through character development, major events, and the influence of characters on other characters. Character development filmed in The Color Purple and Schindler’s List show the audience a clear sense of a difference in authority. In the film The Color Purple, Spielberg introduces Celie as the minority to Mister; who is clearly …show more content…
Spielberg uses very impactful, and realistic events to dig up audience emotions. He shows the transition of characters gaining power from beginning to end. One major event in the Color Purple that shows Celie’s lack of control over her authority figure is when Mister rapes her. This event really deepens the audience’s understanding of how little power Celie has. The theme of the minority gaining power is then showed later in the film when Celie holds up a knife to Mister’s neck and tells him that she’s leaving. This scene is a little ironic and an example of foreshadowing because earlier in the film, Celie is shaving Mister, and Spielberg gives the audience the impression that she will cut his throat. Now, in this scene, she has the power and the will to actually cut his throat. There are also many events that portray the same theme of the minorities gaining power in the film Schindler’s List. All throughout the film, Spielberg creates the feeling of helplessness for the Jews by showing brutal shots of the Nazi’s murdering innocent Jews for no reason. As the film continues, the Jews (especially Schindler’s Jews) gain some control. A major event that portrays the fact of the Jews gaining control is when Schindler’s Jews get sent to Auschwitz on accident. The women stand up to the Nazi’s and tell them “we work for Oskar Schindler” in order to gain back their sense of safety and protection. …show more content…
Many relationships are formed during the films The Color Purple and Schindler’s List that emphasize the theme of the lesser powered characters gaining power. In The Color Purple there are two major relationships formed with Celie that allow her to gain power. The relationship between Celie and her sister, Nettie, is the first turning point in Celie’s rise to power. When Mister sends Nettie away, it is the first time Celie fought for what she wanted. Also, Celie’s relationship with Shug is the reason why she decided to leave Mister. Shug’s relationship with Celie was the most influential. It allowed Celie to slip out of the control of Mister. Relationships like these are also found in Schindler’s List. Many Jews gained power because of the protection of Schindler. Stern’s relationship with Schindler really gave Stern the opportunity to gain power. Although he still obeyed the rules of the Nazis, Schindler helped Stern be able to stand up and fight for his position as Oskar’s assistant in the factory. Not only did Schindler help Stern gain power, but Stern also helped Schindler. Although Oskar Schindler was not seen as a minority, the faithfulness and personal relationship with Stern allowed him to see that what the Jews were going through was not right. This caused Schindler to rise as a powerful leader to the Jews. Spielberg uses many concepts to show how the