Analyze a well-known work, showing how the internal conflict of the protagonist drives the plot from the beginning.
Sunny Johnson
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I chose the Steve Martin movie "Father of the Bride." The Protagonist of this story is George Banks, a devoted father whose daughter suddenly announces her plans to wed.
His internal
conflict is that a huge portion of his identity comes from taking care of his daughter, and he is now afraid of losing his little girl. His external
conflict is him versus the wedding.
The theme of the story is the strong bonds of parent and child, and the bittersweet moments of transition when the child leaves the home.
Beginning: In the first scene, George is sitting in the wreckage of his house after the wedding reception, and reflects that the wedding was more difficult than he ever thought it would be. His pensiveness shows his mixed feelings about the wedding, then in flashback he recounts the story of the wedding. His daughter had just returned from overseas studies and he was looking forward to having her at home again. He recalls playing basketball with her, etc. and it is clear that
she is equally happy to see him. In this story, George's great love of his daughter, and his protectiveness, make him his own worst enemy when faced with the situation of her leaving home and planning a wedding.
Quarter-point: When George meets his daughter's fiance, he doesn't want to go to the door, he is borderline rude, and acts stiff and distant. Then when it is time to plan the wedding, he argues with every expenditure, hurting his daughter's feelings. At this point in the story, George is fighting a losing battle in his internal conflict over his selfish wishes to hang on to his daughter's childish role and realizing that she has outgrown that stage of life.
Middle: They decide to go with a professional wedding planner at the mother's insistance.
George says that he feels left out of the decisions and ends up taking out his frustrations on a clerk at the grocery store, being sent to jail for stealing hot dog buns.
While in jail, George hits bottom and realizes the wedding is going to happen whether he is ready for it to or not.
His wife gets him out. George decides to struggle against his wish to fight the wedding, and to try to be more supportive to his daughter.
Quarter-point: George's daughter comes home in tears, saying that the wedding is off.
His internal conflict is that part of him has been wanting this to happen, but he feels badly because she is so sad, so he goes out with the fiance and patches things up.
Climax: During the wedding, there are countless difficulties which arise, and prevent George from spending any time with his daughter. George sees her leaving in the limo and wistfully says, "I didn't even get to say goodbye."
End: George receives a phone call from his daughter, who is at the airport.
She reassures him of his special place in her life, and he smiles, finally able to let go and wish her a happy honeymoon. In the final scene, George and his wife dance contentedly.Back
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