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Terry says to Charley “I could have had class. I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody. Instead I’m just a bum” Does the film support Terry’s judgement of himself?
“I could have had class. I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody. Instead I’m just a bum” Elia Karzan’s acclaimed film “On the Waterfront” is the story of waterfront union violence and corruption under the control of Johnny Friendly. After the death of Joey Doyle, the protagonist, Terry Malloy, is sent into a spiralling battle with his conscience from which he is able to develop from being a “bum” to a “contender”. Terry is considered a failure not only as a failed boxer but also as an apathetic and mumbling “errand boy” who seems to have little interest in what goes around him. By the end of the film it is clear Terry has progressed into something more than just a “bum”; a “contender” who stands up for what he believes in and has pride in himself. While Terry is initially portrayed as a poorly-respected “bum” through the increasingly remorseless crimes of Friendly, with encouragement of Edie and Father Barry, and ultimately galvanised by his brother Charley’s death, Terry accomplishes what others couldn’t finish, thus gaining the respect of other co-workers and evolving into a “contender”.
In the early scenes of the film, Elia Karzan depicts Terry Malloy as brooding, uneducated, defeated and a “bum”. This is exemplified when Terry acknowledges the fact that he sacrificed his dream to become a boxer for his brother Charley and Johnny Friendly. This shows that though becoming a boxer may have been Terry’s dream, he was ready to dismiss his personal progress in apathy to satisfy Friendly. Despite being the younger brother of Johnny Friendly’s right hand man, Charley Malloy, Terry is generally considered a “bum”, not respected and lazy “You wouldn't mind working once in a while to justify this lofty position, would you?”. Even though Terry starts off as a “bum”, he ultimately becomes a “contender”, not in his former profession a boxer, but as a person respected by others. This progression is only made possible with the help of Edie and the Father who stir his conscience, and the death of Charley which climatically drives Terry to action.
Despite being a “bum”, Terry displays redemptive qualities from the outset. Unlike rest of the Mob members who show little remorse to those “ratting” on them, Terry displays sympathy and remorse for those killed for trying to make a stand against Johnny Friendly when referring to Joey Doyle’s death Terry says “I thought they was gonna talk to him – I thought they was gonna talk to him to dummy up – I figured the worst they was gonna do was lean on him a little bit”. Despite being different from the rest of the Mob and showing remorse, people see little in him, he’s not only considered a “bum”, he’s not respected by anyone, considered a lazy drifter, a slacker and Friendly’s errand boy. In addition, Terry shows loyalty to those close to him. Because Terry exists in the present, at the mercy of Johnny Friendly’s whims, Terry believes that “Johnny [has] bought a piece of me [Terry]”. Hence, Terry’s sacrifice in boxing may, in some way, is seen as loyal “I was doing a favour for some pals”. When pressure by Edie to confess Terry declares to her “I know what you want me to do but I ain’t doing it, so forget it” thus showing loyalty to his own brother Charley. This shows that even though he exhibits redeeming features, not many people see this in Terry; this is because his admirable qualities are shadowed by the overwhelming reputation of Johnny Friendly and his mob.
Terry’s complacency is challenged by the remorseless crimes on the waterfront. It is apparent Johnny Friendly and his Mob do not have any boundaries, moral integrity or conscience. When Joey Doyle was pushed off the roof, rather than showing any sort of remorse, the members of the Mob chooses to make derisive jokes about it “Maybe he could sing, but he couldn't fly.” This indicates that the Mob is prepared to take action when required without any hesitation, thus highlighting their brutality. It is clear Terry is conflicted by seeing the remorseless crimes of Friendly from the death of Joey Doyle through to the death of Kayo Dugan who was also prepared to give evidence. The brutality and the extent of the crimes can be stressed when Friendly orders the hit on his own right hand man Charley as he is unable to convince Terry to be “deaf and dumb”. Charley’s murder and the desire for revenge seals Terry’s decision to testify against Friendly and stand up for what he believes in. Thus, Terry’s redemptive qualities can finally be seen by others.
Terry’s journey to becoming a “contender” is only made possible by the assistance of others including Edie and Father Barry. If it weren’t for his meeting with Edie, who is portrayed as angelic, always shot in bright light throughout the film, Terry would probably have stifled his feelings of guilt and his awakening sense of responsibility. It would be much easier for Terry to continue on as before, but Edie offers him a vision of himself as a better man than he ever imagined he could be. As Terry gets to know Edie and then to fall in love with her, he is given a new perspective on the life that he has been living. When Kayo Dugan is murdered and Father Barry gives the eulogy, Terry is obviously taken by his words especially the warning that silence is consent “And anybody who sits around and lets it happen, keeps silent about something he knows has happened— shares the guilt of it just as much…” Though influenced by Father Barry’s words, Terry cannot act as he is caught in the middle. If Terry was to act as Edie and Father Barry asked him to, not only would he be putting his own life in danger, “If I spill, my life ain’t worth a nickel”, but he would be “pointing the finger” at his own brother whom he care for. Yet, ultimately, he did “point the finger”. As a result, by the end of the film, he is a different person. He has grown into a man of honesty and integrity who has won his own personal battle and gained self-respect as well as the respect of the other workers.
The cab scene of the film is by far the most important scene. It displays Terry’s potential to have been a greater man, a “contender” if it wasn’t for Johnny Friendly. The scene stands out because of the genuineness of the love Terry and Charley reveal for each other. It is clear the waterfront world is full of fear, moral compromise and misplaced loyalty, but this is a moment of clarity where the brothers find each other again through a mutual confession. The regretful and tender disappointment with which Terry pushes the gun away demonstrates his deep trust in Charley’s love. Charley is reminded of his previous betrayal of Terry where he was forced to throw away his dream “You came down to my dressing room and said, ‘Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.’” Though Charley initially tries to come up with an excuse, Terry pleads Charley to recognise that he lost much more than just a boxing match “I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody” This forces Charley to acknowledge Terry’s pain, what he has lost and the injustice he is part of, thus realises there is no way he could sacrifice Terry to prop up Friendly’s operation.
By the end of the film, it is clear Terry has made himself a “contender” Terry grows in stature as the fog lifts from his mind and he is clear about what he must do. This can be seen through the juxtaposing body language and speech from the beginning and the end of the film. Initially Terry mumbles and finds it hard to express his thoughts and emotion but he becomes increasingly authoritative “I’m glad what I done”, “I’ve been ratting on myself all this time”. Terry’s final walk after being beaten up by Friendly’s thugs is the walk of an individual who has challenged the system and triumphed. Though realistically Terry’s action does not dispose of the whole Mob, from being a disrespected “bum” Terry becomes a “contender”, a symbol of the film’s moral compass and the workers’ intolerance of exploitation by union boss. However, though ending as being a “contender”, Terry’s blurred vision is a reminder that nothing is certain in this world.
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