The Pied Piper Analysis
Footloose shows that the only way for young people to become trustworthy is for adults to trust them. The movie is set during the 80’s in a small town called Beaumont, where dancing is outlawed. Beaumont is under the tight grasp of the Reverend Moore, who is the loudest advocate against dancing. This does not sit well with Ren McCormac. Just moved from Chicago, Ren finds himself clashing with the conservative culture of Beaumont, and seems to make a stir wherever he goes. While this doesn’t endear him to the adults, Ren’s big city charm attracts a group of teens who want to break out of the confines of their small town, especially the reverend’s daughter Ariel. Despite her father’s overly firm hand, Ariel is reckless; in one scene, she stands
…show more content…
Analyze the use of metaphor and imagery in the film, citing several examples. One parallel is between Ren and the Pied Piper. In legends, the Pied Piper is said to have removed the rats from Hamelin with music from his pipe. The villagers refused to pay him, and even insinuated that he caused the rat infestation just to extort them. The Piper retaliates by luring the children of the village away just as he did the rats. Ren plays a similar role to this in the film. He’s an outsider, not trusted by the adults of the town. They see him as a potential corrupter, ready to captivate their children and lead them down the garden path. Instead of pipes, however, Ren has pop music.
In Footloose, the concept of dance represents “temptation.” Early on in the movie, Reverend Moore preaches against dance and music saying that it is God “testing” them. This can be equated to the story of Adam and Eve; God tells them not to eat fruit from the forbidden tree and banishes them from the garden of Eden when they do. Reverend Moore thinks of the young people of his congregation as innocent (even if they aren’t) just as God did Adam and Eve, and doesn’t want them to undergo the same “fall of man.” Later in the film, however, Ren disproves this by reading other passages from the Bible that show dancing as a celebratory act, not
Analyze the use of metaphor and imagery in the film, citing several examples. One parallel is between Ren and the Pied Piper. In legends, the Pied Piper is said to have removed the rats from Hamelin with music from his pipe. The villagers refused to pay him, and even insinuated that he caused the rat infestation just to extort them. The Piper retaliates by luring the children of the village away just as he did the rats. Ren plays a similar role to this in the film. He’s an outsider, not trusted by the adults of the town. They see him as a potential corrupter, ready to captivate their children and lead them down the garden path. Instead of pipes, however, Ren has pop music.
In Footloose, the concept of dance represents “temptation.” Early on in the movie, Reverend Moore preaches against dance and music saying that it is God “testing” them. This can be equated to the story of Adam and Eve; God tells them not to eat fruit from the forbidden tree and banishes them from the garden of Eden when they do. Reverend Moore thinks of the young people of his congregation as innocent (even if they aren’t) just as God did Adam and Eve, and doesn’t want them to undergo the same “fall of man.” Later in the film, however, Ren disproves this by reading other passages from the Bible that show dancing as a celebratory act, not