Rocky Movie Symbolism

Rocky, directed by John G. Avildsen, is a film full of meaning and strong messages that encompass relatable characters along with an exciting plot. This enticing movie brings you with the character Rocky as he struggles to succeed in middle-class Philadelphia. Living in the poorer sections of his neighborhood, Rocky is a small-time boxer who also works for a loan shark on the side. He makes just enough money to keep a deteriorating apartment and a couple pets. But once given the opportunity to box a legend in front of a huge crowd, he works hard to train and prepare. Though quite drab and uneventful at some moments, the movie progresses into a film with a depth the viewer would never suspect. It's full of moments guaranteed to make you laugh,
The symbolism in the movie can be seen just after the beginning of the film as Rocky enters his lonesome and broken-down apartment. The emptiness of the apartment reflects on Rocky’s current state of life. Due to him having very few friends, he talks to his pet turtles as he enters his house as if they were a friend or family member. As he rambles on about his day, he opens the fridge to grab a beer, only to find it empty, just as his life. Later on in the movie, the banner made of Rocky to promote the big fight isn’t made to scale, unlike his opponent’s, Apollo Creed. But as Rocky continues to rigorously train for his big opportunity, Apollo simply distracts himself with the business side of the fight, showing up unprepared and slow, much like the well-known fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare”. Though Rocky doesn't quite have the happy ending the viewers expect, it still has a great moral: When given the opportunity to become more that what you are, work hard until you are able to reach your own goal. Rocky may have lost, but he won the internal battle and achieved the goal he set for himself: to still be standing when the bell