The Struggle In There Will Be Blood By Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood exemplifies two main characters’ conflicts within society. Daniel and Eli have a struggle with family and power, but believe that wealth is a dominating factor leading to a better life. The word family runs thin in There Will Be Blood. There are noticeable challenges within both the Plainview and Sunday families. Daniel Plainview does not have much family in existence throughout the movie. H.W. is the only proven family Daniel has left. However, H.W. is not Daniel’s blood family. The audience sees H.W.’s father dies while working in a well in the beginning of the film. Once all the workers leave Daniel takes H.W. as his own son. There are several moments during the film where Daniel treats H.W. with …show more content…
Eli gained much power in Little Boston for being young. The audience can see that Daniel has Eli figured out when attending a church sermon. Eli’s sermon on Mrs. Hunter is obnoxious and Daniel tells Eli that was a quote a show. This statement clarifies how Eli has gained power by his actions. Daniel notices the fakeness of Eli, due to the fact Daniel is fake as well. Eli wants Daniel to introduce him at the first well digging to project a blessing. However, Daniel does not ask Eli to come forward, but Eli’s sister Mary to be present. Daniel also takes Eli’s blessing as his own and never mentions Eli. Instead Daniel makes a mockery of Eli’s request. This is a sign of Daniel’s power over Eli and that Daniel will not be told what to do. Eli expands the Church of the Third Revelation due to the number of members he is gaining. Eli looks to himself as more powerful with the population of the church. Despite what Daniel said about Eli’s sermon Eli continues to put on shows. Shortly after the well blows up and H.W. is injured Eli comes to Daniel. Eli is disrespectful by asking where the money for the church is instead of going to heal H.W. Daniel starts to hit Eli and drags him in the mud, yet Daniel is above Eli telling Eli he will bury him. The one time in the film Eli has the upper hand on Daniel is during Daniel’s baptism. Eli makes Daniel kneel before him and repeat how he has abandoned H.W. In the meantime, Eli hits Daniel, repeatedly before giving him the blood for the baptism. Only that Daniel did the baptism to gain access to building the pipeline. Over time Daniel gains more power with his company and expands his findings with the pipeline. At the end of the movie while sleeping in his house Daniel gets waked by Eli. Eli comes with an offer for business. Daniel tricks Eli into saying he is a false prophet over and over. The same way Eli did to Daniel earlier in the movie. Once Daniel tells Eli that there is no point of business and