Guess who's coming for dinner - Book Report/Review Example

By pushing the boundaries of acceptability within the society of that time and calling into question a great many norms that had formerly been accepted at face value, the film was ultimately able to piggy back on the Civil Rights movement as a means of engaging the viewing public with deeply ingrained biases that existed in almost every member of society; regardless of whether they were black or white. As a function of understanding this film to a greater extent and seeking to analyze key aspects of it, this brief analysis will focus upon the relationships between blacks and whites as represented in the film, how “Tillie” represents a throwback to an earlier age, the attitude of Joey’s parents, and the reaction to Dr.

Prentice’s statement concerning the mail bag monologue. Firstly, with regards to the relationships that are exhibited between blacks and whites in the film, the viewer comes to understand that two distinct dynamics are realized. The first of these centers upon the fact that blacks and whites are represented within their own unique worlds that hardly interact or share many similarities. Although both blacks and whites exists within the same communities, have families, work jobs to provide for them, and engage in various other activities common to all individuals, they attend different churches, schools, and exist as entirely separate cultures.

This is of course not the result of segregation but of enforced norms and mores that society has ultimately developed. Secondly, there of course existed a noticeable undercurrent of tension, jealously, and prejudice among both blacks and white within the film. Such an honest representation of reality went a long way in making the movie fit correctly with the reality of the time in which it was made. With regards to how the house maid known as “Tillie” was a throwback to an earlier time, this was done on purpose and with clear and overt intentions by the filmmaker.

Firstly, Tillie is of course represented as a house maid; an obvious connection to the era of slavery in that she served the masters of the house. Secondly, Tillie remains something of a neutral character throughout the film up until the point that she tries to encourage Dr. Prentice to forego his silly fascination with the white girl and follow what was normal and best for his own life. In this way, Tillie’s approach to the situation underscored what would likely have been an earlier approach with regards to the older generation and their belief that no young black man had any business being with a white woman in such a way. Dr. Prentice statement to his father was interesting on several levels; however, it was specifically interesting due to the fact that Dr.

Prentice iterated on more than one occasion that the sacrifices that his father made in order for him to be able to go to school and make something of his life did not represent a continual debt that Dr. Prentice must appreciate; rather, it was his father’s responsibility in the same way that if Dr. Prentice one day had a son it would be his responsibility to do the same. There is an element to slavery referenced in the way that Dr. Prentice speaks to his father. Although his father has a point that he sacrificed greatly to bring him up in the best way possible, Dr.

Prentice responds by stating that a single act of courage and