Dances with wolves
Michelle Grande
September 14, 2014
Film III
Block 7
Dances with Wolves Making friends with wolves and Indians? Two things an American soldier would have never dreamed of. “Dances with Wolves” is the name rightly given to Lieutenant John Dunbar by the Sioux Indian tribe he befriends. The director, Kevin Costner stars in this award winning film masterpiece. The plot of this movie involves unrealistic aspects that are convoluted yet resolved. The dialogue was simplistic and believable due to the complexity of communication between the white people and Indians. The unrealistic aspects begin the movie off when John Dunbar rides horse- back into confederate lines alone, and comes out without harm done. This act was viewed as an act of suicide yet John undermines this unbelievably. The themes in this movie include racism, love and friendship, and loyalty and betrayal. Racism is shown by the white American soldiers who judge the Indians by stereotypes before they meet them. John Dunbar is the exception because he shows compassion and peace toward them which is ultimately beneficial as they help each other in various ways, one being the buffalo hunt. Friendship is created by John showing kindness to the Sioux, and love comes later on when John marries the white Sioux Stands with Fists. When the Union soldiers came out to Dunbar’s soldier fort, then he returns from living with the Sioux, they mistake him as a trader. John unsuccessfully tries to show them he has not betrayed the Union, but made peace with the Sioux. The recurring symbols in Dances with Wolves are presented in the title: a wolf and a dance. Dunbar is at first afraid of the wolf, as the wolf is of him. Over time, Dunbar gets over his fear and becomes fascinated with the wolf. He gains the wolf's trust by feeding him. Eventually, they become used to each other. It is unusual for these two natural enemies to become friends, but Dunbar's willingness to "get to know" the wolf leads him to understand
September 14, 2014
Film III
Block 7
Dances with Wolves Making friends with wolves and Indians? Two things an American soldier would have never dreamed of. “Dances with Wolves” is the name rightly given to Lieutenant John Dunbar by the Sioux Indian tribe he befriends. The director, Kevin Costner stars in this award winning film masterpiece. The plot of this movie involves unrealistic aspects that are convoluted yet resolved. The dialogue was simplistic and believable due to the complexity of communication between the white people and Indians. The unrealistic aspects begin the movie off when John Dunbar rides horse- back into confederate lines alone, and comes out without harm done. This act was viewed as an act of suicide yet John undermines this unbelievably. The themes in this movie include racism, love and friendship, and loyalty and betrayal. Racism is shown by the white American soldiers who judge the Indians by stereotypes before they meet them. John Dunbar is the exception because he shows compassion and peace toward them which is ultimately beneficial as they help each other in various ways, one being the buffalo hunt. Friendship is created by John showing kindness to the Sioux, and love comes later on when John marries the white Sioux Stands with Fists. When the Union soldiers came out to Dunbar’s soldier fort, then he returns from living with the Sioux, they mistake him as a trader. John unsuccessfully tries to show them he has not betrayed the Union, but made peace with the Sioux. The recurring symbols in Dances with Wolves are presented in the title: a wolf and a dance. Dunbar is at first afraid of the wolf, as the wolf is of him. Over time, Dunbar gets over his fear and becomes fascinated with the wolf. He gains the wolf's trust by feeding him. Eventually, they become used to each other. It is unusual for these two natural enemies to become friends, but Dunbar's willingness to "get to know" the wolf leads him to understand