Analysis Of There Will Be Blood By H. W. Plainview

Beneath the civilized culture of community, business and religion presented in There will be Blood, is a primal culture, one in which participants are in a constant competition, aggressively seeking to dominate each other. The life of H.W. Plainview, albeit not fully captured over the course of the film, is nonetheless, one that offers deep insight, especially in the context of this hostile culture. In pursuit of a life of independence and fulfillment, H.W. must confront the dangerous world of There will be Blood, and in particular, the negative influence of his adoptive father, Daniel Plainview. Despite these obstacles, H.W. is able to overcome, both by learning from his father’s example and by using his shortcomings to further his growth, …show more content…
As mentioned earlier, the primary obstacle to achieving true autonomy is Daniel Plainview. Even as H.W. is physically separated from Daniel, his influence remains pervasive. This is evident when H.W. acquires his father’s physicality at times, and even more so, when he resolves to pursue a career in the industry that makes his father’s name. The ambition so unique to his father, he seems to carry within himself. So, when Although Daniel says, “You have none of me in you, (TWBB)”, in the utmost disgust although he says so with the utmost disgust, this is exactly what H.W. has always needed to hear. To know that he is free of his father’s grasp, of any biological influence, is his final redemption and represents a major step in becoming his own man. As H.W. leaves Daniel he says, unfazed, “I thank God I have none of me in you.” (TWBB).” Thus, these final words serve as the capstone in his journey, affirming his individuality and solidifying his …show more content…
Despite Daniel’s efforts to impede him, H.W. remains steadfast in his goals throughout. His physical challenges, most significantly the loss of his hearing, become a source of strength, encouraging him to develop new means of self-expression. In addition, his personal development doubles as a way to distinguish himself from his father. However, Yes, his journey is stunted by virtue of the film’s structure as. We do not see H.W. for much of the film and we know not of his life after leaving his father. Still, H.W.’s character defies expectations, both in regard to his individual journey, despite his physical limitations, and to his character’s depth, despite its structural limitations. By fully exploring his character, we are exposed to a world within the world of There Wwill Bbe Blood, one in which struggles can be overcome, no matter how great, through rugged determination and