Group+2

Group 2 (Morgan, Mya, Wendy)

Peace at home vs. War at large


 * Thesis:** The classic film //Dr. Zhivago//, directed by David Lean, illuminates the conflict between peace at home and the war at large through Yurii Zhivago's struggle for a peaceful and fulfilling life apart from the brutality and horror of war.


 * Introduction:** In the storm of wars and chaos, there is always a lighthouse of hope and peace. __The classic film //Dr. Zhivago//, directed by David Lean, illuminates the conflict between peace at home and the war at large through Yurii Zhivago's struggle for a peaceful and fulfilling life apart from the brutality and horror of war.__ The very thought of war goes against Yurii's beliefs, but war continually becomes more apparent, and he must set forth to search for a world uncorrupted by violence through the love of his life, Lara.

I. The concept of war goes against the beliefs of Yurii Zhivago, but violence and brutality only become more recurring. A) Yurii is a sensitive and poetic individual who wants to write poetry but attends medical school instead. 1. In medical school, one of Yurii's professors reminds him that bacteria may be beautiful under the microscope, but they do ugly things to people. B) Yurii witnesses Bloody Sunday, as harmless civilians are trampled and ponders how the world can have such little regard to life. 1. As everyone else is fleeing the scene, Yurii rushes to the rescue of an injured woman but is shooed away by a guard. C) Likewise, in the movie //Slumdog Millionaire// the main character Jamal Malik is an innocent child amidst a raging war in his country. 1. Jamal's mother is murdered at the hands of army men, leaving him alone as an orphan, and his brother is hardened by the violence and becomes increasingly brutal. 2. Yurii and Jamal both come to a realization of the harshness of war and leave in hopes of finding a place uncorrupted by violence.

II. Although Yurii tries to seclude himself from the harsh reality and violence, he is forced to take part in the war. A. Yurii finds out that his wife Tonia is pregnant and so he goes into town to break his relationship with Lara, whom he has been having an affair with since the makeshift field hospital. 1. He feels as though he needs to make peace with Tonia and Lara, so that he can live an honest and decent life, despite how much he is in love with both of these women. B. Yurii is conscripted by the red army to act as the red army's medical doctor, although he ultimately would have chosen to be completely uninvolved in the war in any way. 1. However, if Yurii refuses he will be shot. C. Likewise, In //The Patriot//, directed by Rolland Emmerich, one of the main characters, Benjamin Martin, is forced to take part in the war as well. 1. Nearly all of Benjamin's belongings are burned to the ground, and his son is murdered by people in the army, after his eldest son comes to him for medical help after being shot during the war. And on top of all of that, his eldest son is taken away. 2. This is when he gets dragged into the army since he is forced to fight for his son's life, and eventually for the brutality of the war to end, in hopes of saving the rest of his family.

III. As the last finale, Yurii sends Lara off with Kamorovsky for her safety. Lara brings Yurii peace and happiness. A) Lara is in danger at news of Strenlikov's death. 1. The red army now is leaderless, and Lara vulnerable for attack. 2. Lara also bears Yurii's child, and escapes for the child's safety. B) Yurii only sees Lara one more time after she leaves. 1. He rushes off the bus when he sees her years later, but cannot catch up to her and dies of heart problems. 2. The war takes Lara away from Yurii as he learns that he cannot live a life sheltered from the evils of the world. C) Benjamin in //Animal Farm//, written by George Orwell, loses his one true friend Boxer from thinking he could just live his life and avoid the conflicts. 1. Benjamin is fully aware of the corruption of power held by the pigs for the duration of the novella, but he secludes himself and lives his life. 2. Due to Benjamin's seclusion, the other animals are hopelessly ignorant, and Boxer works himself to death. Benjamin realizes that he, like Dr. Zhivago, cannot hide under the bed and pretend the rest of the room isn't there. 3. A Chinese proverb states, "If you do not help put out your neighbor's burning house, if will spread and burn yours down."


 * Conclusion:** Dr. Zhivago brings to light the struggles of living in a time where peace cannot be uninterrupted by war. The brutality and horror of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the subsequent Russian Civil War plagues Yurii Zhivago, forcing him to realize the evils of the world and even lose the love of his life Lara. Yurii maintains his inner peace through Lara, and she brings him immense happiness, which at the end results in his fatal heart attack.