Identifying conflict in ones life and overcoming it can be beneficial to a person's happiness and well being no matter how hard circumstances may be. In Beresford's 'Paradise Road' many of the characters displayed positive change even after being kept in a 'prison' from the war. Even though the women experienced horrendous images and tragedies, they managed to be optimistic after being held in captivity. Some of the women had their values challenged but still kept positive about their experience in camp. Other women displayed acts of heroism and courage which helped them realise their full potentoal as well as identifying talents that they did not know they had. The Japanese man did not only keep European women and children in the camp, but they also had Dutch and other cultures of Asian too. Having a racial mix, some women made an effort to understand other cultures by breaking down the barriers they had against them. However, not all changes are postive, therefore some women in the film had their morals compromised and lacked the strength to continue facing the conflict with the Japanese.
Conflict challenges our values, making us into 'better' people. Mrs. Roberts, a snobby, rich woman clearly showed that despite what she has gone through at camp, she still managed to put her social guard down and is willing to accept other cultures. After Wing's passing, Mrs Roberts comments to her daughter, 'Who knows what kind of contraband she was in to.', her daughter then tells her that she was the one that got the medicine to cure her. From then onwards, Mrs Roberts starts to become more sociable and accepting, embracing all the cultures that were in camp. When she had passed away she tells her daughter, 'I learnt nothing in Singapore, and I learnt more at camp.' By saying this we see that Mrs. Roberts had changed her values, helping her become a better person.
Conflict can help us realise our potential,