Analysis Of Frank Hopkins And The Great Race

Everybody has a home, a place where they feel most comfortable. Frank Hopkins, a long distance horse rider, finds his home after he goes to the other side of the world to compete in The Great Race. Hopkins and Hidalgo go through several challenges over the course of the race that change who Frank Hopkins is as a person. When he returns from competing in The Great Race, he uses the money he wins to do good in the world. Frank Hopkins follows a path similar to one of a Greek God or hero quest, but what differents him from a God, is he doesn’t have a spectacular bloodline, he is an ordinary person in the western society. Seger identified that successful films often follow the same story line; in the movie Hidalgo, Seger’s classifications of a hero quest is followed. Seger discusses that, “The hero myth has specific story beats that occur in all hero stories.
Jazira is Hopkins platonic ideal. Jazira is Hopkins source of inspiration to the finish and end the race so she doesn't have to marry and become her husbands 5th wife. Jazira also gives Hopkins butter for Hopkins and his horse to eat in the remainder of the race. Hopkins has to get Jazira back from the people who had taken her on Hopkins day of rest. Hopkins gives up his day of rest for a girl he just meant which shows his good moral character. This event shows hopkins change in heart. This act is an unselfish act that Hopkins might not have done at the begging of the movie. Hopkins final strength to the win the race comes from Hopkins heritage and his ties with the Lakota Sioux to his epiphany. Hidalgo was on the ground and he could not get back up but when Hopkins sang the song to his tribe, Hidalgo popped back up and finishes the race. In the end, Hopkins tribe saves Hopkins and his horse. Hopkins is thankful for the inspirations and uses the winnings to let the wild horses be wild again on his tribes