Symbolism In The Movie Radio

Marcus Aurelius once said, “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one”. This saying expresses Coach Jones’ attitude when encountering a mentally retarded young man in the movie, Radio. Throughout the film, Coach Jones struggles with taking the young man they call Radio under his wing at Hanna High School. Many groups and people, such as Mr. Tucker and the school board, Frank Clay, and the community at the barbershop, are weary of Radio’s presence in the high school and let their prejudice blind them from seeing the real Radio. Even in adverse situations, Coach Jones stuck to his guns and stood up for what was right, even when giving up was easier. When Radio was first introduced into Hanna High School, Mr. Tucker came …show more content…
After the first football game at the barber shop, spirits are high and everything is well. There is a fresh full pot of coffee for Coach Jones symbolizing high spirits and their great faith in Coach Jones. Radio wasn’t involved in the football team yet and no one has any opposition to Coach Jones. After the next game at the barbershop, the coffee pot is almost empty and stale, symbolizing their diminishing spirits and faith in Coach Jones. Radio has become involved and after a loss the community is looking for a scapegoat. This is the first time Coach Jones heard any negativity about the team or Radio. Coach Jones is outraged and in trying to keep his composure, sets his coffee down and leaves. The third instance we are introduced to in the barbershop was not after a game, but was a meeting about what was to happen with Radio. In the middle of the meeting, Coach Jones comes in with his wife and daughter and addresses the barbershop about Radio. Coach Jones spoke about priorities and how the community had put football on a higher pedestal than a young man who desperately needed their help. He then proceeded to say that his priority, unlike the majority of the society, was Radio, not football. He had decided to give up his position as head football coach to better help Radio. Coach Jones knew that the only way Radio would be …show more content…
He refused to give into peer pressure and give up on Radio even though the majority was against him. He knew what the right thing to do was, and did it no matter how hard it was. He did not let himself take the easy way out. This attribute can be applied many ways in life. When a fork in the road in life is reached and a path must be chosen between the hard and easy way, obviously the easy path is the most popular choice, even though it may be wrong or go against your morals. Using Coach Jones as an example, we can all learn that choosing what is right, which is often the hard path, may be challenging but it will end up okay in the end. No matter what the choice is, Coach Jones’ perseverance and upstanding morals can be used as inspiration to choose the right thing, even if you have to sacrifice something you love to do what is right. Although doing this can be very challenging, you must think about your priorities and what is important to you, what is easy or what is