Christopher GUEST

04/02/09

On the Waterfront Scene Analysis

Bar / Wedding Scene

Throughout this scene, Edie is alternatively repulsed by and attracted to Terry. This attraction is due to his apparent kindness yet his unwillingness or rather impossibility to help her repulses her. Terry makes several attempts to increase the intimacy between Edie and him. Firstly, he invites her for a drink and engages in a pleasant conversation about general superficial topics. This allows the mood to become relaxed and Edie starts to loosen up. On top of this the drinks arrive and Edie drinks alcohol for the first time in her life, another element allowing Edie to unwind. However things turn badly after Edie demands that Terry sings as she has growing suspicions about his ignorance, to which Terry answers that she should return to Daisy Land, where everything is good and innocent. This leads Edie to run out of the bar, but she rapidly finds herself out of her depth, and once more Terry comes to rescue her. After this the atmosphere changes, with jazz trumpets playing in the background, and Edie and Terry start dancing together. Edie describes what she is feeling is just like floating, and she is about to kiss Terry when a mobster comes and interrupts them. This thug makes Edies doubts about Terry return, doubts which are almost confirmed by the arrival of the Crime Commission officers, who demand Terry testifies in court. Terry tries to wriggle out of answering questions, looking very uneasy, repeating the same thoughts: It aint safe and little lady, just trying to show Edie she is out of her depths in the area. Terry is clearly squirming and in denial, as he faces a moral dilemma continue in his ways, with the same code and stay safe, or do more (as Edie would say) and eat cheese for the cops.