Characters (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes
Characters
The characters in Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront represent different moral positions in a corrupt world. Each character faces choices between personal loyalty and doing what's right, creating a complex web of relationships that drives the film's central themes.
Terry Malloy - the troubled protagonist
Terry Malloy serves as the film's conflicted main character, embodying the struggle between self-preservation and moral courage. Portrayed by Marlon Brando, Terry begins as someone who cares more about his pigeons and boxing dreams than the harsh realities of waterfront life. However, circumstances force him to confront the consequences of his actions and choices.
Terry's character development
At the start of the film, Terry appears disconnected and inarticulate, nursing conflicting emotions that he struggles to express. Brando's physical performance reveals Terry's inner turmoil through subtle mannerisms - he looks away when speaking to people, fidgets nervously with his hands, and often seems distracted. These behaviours suggest someone carrying heavy psychological burdens that remain hidden from view.
Terry's physical transformation throughout the film serves as a visual representation of his moral development. Brando's masterful performance uses body language and mannerisms to show internal change that would be difficult to convey through dialogue alone.
As the story progresses, Terry's physical presence transforms dramatically. By the film's climax, when he wears Joey Doyle's jacket during his final confrontation on the docks, his posture becomes more confident and his nervous gestures disappear. This external change reflects his internal growth - he speaks clearly rather than mumbling, looks people in the eye, and carries himself with newfound dignity.
Terry's transformation isn't entirely self-motivated. Key events shape his development: discovering his role in Joey Doyle's death, recognising Edie's genuine love, receiving Father Barry's guidance, and witnessing the murders of Dugan and Charlie. These experiences accumulate to create a man who must choose between his old life of complicity and a new path of moral courage.
Key quotes revealing Terry's character
Character Analysis: Terry's Famous Taxi Scene Quote
"I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."
This famous line exposes Terry's deep sense of regret and unfulfilled potential. He recognises that his brother and the corrupt union system have denied him opportunities for a better life. The quote reveals both his vulnerability and his growing self-awareness about how external forces have shaped his destiny.
Character Analysis: Terry's Moral Awakening
"Conscience... that stuff can drive you nuts."
Here, Terry articulates his internal struggle with guilt over Joey Doyle's death. The line demonstrates his moral awakening - he wants to do what's right but fears the consequences. It shows his journey from someone who avoided thinking about right and wrong to someone tormented by moral questions.
Character Analysis: Terry's Fear and Understanding
"You know, if I spill, my life ain't worth a nickel."
This quote reveals Terry's very real fear of retaliation while also showing his understanding of the danger involved in speaking truth to power. It reflects both his self-preservation instincts and his gradual movement towards courage despite the risks.
Edie Doyle - the moral compass
Edie Doyle represents innocence and moral clarity in the film's corrupt environment. Played by Eva Marie Saint, she possesses an almost spiritual quality that helps Terry rediscover his conscience. Her restraint, modesty, and unwavering principles create a stark contrast to the violence and moral compromise surrounding her.
Edie's unwavering principles
Edie's dedication to her brother Joey drives every action she takes in the film. This loyalty demonstrates her strength of character - she refuses to be intimidated by the gang members or discouraged by the dangerous environment of the waterfront. Her determination to uncover the truth about Joey's death shows remarkable courage for someone from her sheltered background.
The relationship between Edie and Terry develops partly because they represent opposite worlds - she embodies educated, church-going respectability while he represents the rough, physical world of the docks. Their attraction grows from this contrast, but also from their shared capacity for genuine feeling in an environment where most people have learned to suppress their emotions.
Edie serves as Terry's pathway to redemption. She doesn't simply accept him as he is, but challenges him to become better. When she learns of his involvement in Joey's death, she initially rejects him, but ultimately her faith in human goodness allows her to forgive and support his transformation.
Key quotes showing Edie's character
"Shouldn't everybody care about everybody else?"
This simple question captures Edie's idealism and moral clarity. In a world where people look out only for themselves, her belief in universal human responsibility seems naive but actually represents the film's core ethical message. She serves as the voice of conscience for both Terry and the audience.
"I want you to stay away from me."
Spoken after discovering Terry's role in Joey's death, this line shows Edie's strength and self-respect. Despite her feelings for Terry, she refuses to compromise her values or accept his past actions without consequence. This demonstrates that her love has conditions - it requires honesty and moral growth.
"You let your conscience tell you what to do."
This line confirms Edie's role as Terry's moral guide. She encourages him to act with integrity even when it's dangerous, appealing to his better nature and helping him find the courage to do what's right.
Father Barry - the activist priest
Father Barry represents the possibility of religious faith translated into social action. Played by Karl Malden, he refuses to remain passive in the face of injustice and corruption. His character challenges the stereotype of priests as removed from worldly concerns, instead showing how spiritual principles can motivate practical resistance to evil.
Father Barry's moral leadership
Initially, Father Barry appears well-intentioned but somewhat ineffective - he offers Edie vague comfort about finding him in church if needed. However, his encounter with the unemployed dock workers transforms his approach. He begins to understand that good intentions without action accomplish nothing in the face of systematic corruption.
Father Barry's development parallels Terry's in some ways - both men become more active and engaged as the film progresses. The priest's increased cigarette smoking symbolically represents his "thickening skin" as he toughens himself for the fight against corruption.
The priest's famous "Sermon on the Docks" delivered over Dugan's body shows his evolution from passive observer to active moral leader. His relationship with Terry becomes crucial to the protagonist's transformation, as Father Barry provides both spiritual counsel and practical encouragement, helping Terry understand that silence in the face of evil constitutes a form of complicity.
Key quotes revealing Father Barry's mission
"A dead man... and you think it doesn't matter who killed him and why?"
Father Barry uses this challenge to confront the longshoremen's silence about Dugan's murder. It demonstrates his righteous anger and moral courage, pushing the workers to see their complicity as a form of guilt. He refuses to let them treat violence as normal or acceptable.
"Boys, this is my church! And if you don't think Christ is down here on the waterfront, you've got another guess coming."
This powerful statement shows Father Barry's commitment to bringing faith into action. He rejects the idea that religion should remain separate from social justice, instead positioning himself among the workers and challenging their complacency about corruption.
Father Barry's core message throughout the film embodies the principle that "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." He consistently urges people to act morally even when they're afraid, embodying the theme of speaking truth to power.
Johnny Friendly - the corrupt union boss
Johnny Friendly serves as the film's primary antagonist, representing the corruption and violence that dominates the waterfront. Played by Lee J. Cobb, he maintains power through fear, intimidation, and the elimination of anyone who threatens his control. His character demonstrates how corruption becomes institutionalised when good people remain silent.
Johnny Friendly's methods of control
Friendly's leadership of the Longshoremen's Local Union depends entirely on his ability to intimidate others. His passionate speeches about fighting for scraps and surviving on the streets reveal someone who justifies current corruption by referencing past hardship. He presents the union as his only path to self-preservation, though he's clearly moved far beyond mere survival to comfortable exploitation.
When Friendly feels secure in his power, he displays generosity - giving out jobs, offering money, and projecting an image of magnanimous leadership. However, when anyone challenges his authority, he responds with swift and brutal violence. This pattern shows that his apparent kindness is merely another tool of control.
The character's dramatic downfall occurs when Terry testifies to the Waterfront Crime Commission. Stripped of his power and reduced to ineffective threats, Friendly transforms from intimidating boss to pathetic figure. His final scenes show him flailing helplessly as his former victims ignore his orders.
Key quotes showing Johnny Friendly's character
"You think you're God Almighty, but you know what you are? You're a cheap, lousy, dirty, stinkin' mug!"
Though spoken by another character about Johnny, this quote reflects how others perceive him once his power diminishes. Johnny's authority rests on violence, greed, and fear rather than genuine respect, making his position inherently unstable.
"You'd better wise up, wise guy. The only way you stay alive is to say nothing."
This threat reveals Johnny's brutal approach to maintaining control over the waterfront. He uses fear to silence opposition, demonstrating his paranoia and insecurity - he knows his power is fragile and depends on keeping others afraid.
"Everything moves in and out, we take our cut."
Johnny views the union as a personal revenue stream rather than a protector of workers' rights. This quote shows his corruption and exploitation, as he profits from others' labour while claiming to be their leader and protector.
Charley Malloy - the conflicted brother
Charley Malloy faces the film's most complex moral dilemma, torn between loyalty to his brother Terry and his obligations to Johnny Friendly's organisation. Played by Rod Steiger, he becomes a tragic figure who ultimately fails to bridge the gap between two incompatible worlds.
Charley's impossible position
As Johnny Friendly's second-in-command, Charley has achieved a comfortable position that allows him to provide for his family and support his brother. His relationship with Friendly resembles that of a loyal blood brother, and Friendly has made it possible for Charley to live well. However, this security comes at the cost of moral compromise and involvement in corruption.
Charley's love for Terry creates genuine conflict within him. Whether he's teasing Terry about his privileged position on the docks or criticising his relationship with Edie, Charley consistently shows concern for Terry's wellbeing. However, he fails to consider Terry's personal desires and needs, which proves to be a fatal mistake.
Rod Steiger's performance captures Charley's growing anxiety through subtle physical details - nervous glances, hesitant gestures, and the famous taxi scene where his internal conflict becomes most visible. As the film progresses, Charley realises he cannot reconcile his dual loyalties, and his desperation to find a solution ultimately leads to his destruction.
Key quotes revealing Charley's dilemma
"Look, kid, I'm for you. I'm with you all the way, you know that."
Charley attempts to reassure Terry, but his words ring hollow because they reveal the fundamental conflict between love and survival. He wants to support his brother while remaining complicit in Terry's moral downfall, showing how self-interest has compromised his ability to truly help those he loves.
"I kept you for me."
This devastating admission reveals that Charley prevented Terry from succeeding in boxing so he could keep him under the mob's control. It's a moment of overwhelming guilt and regret, showing how self-interest has destroyed his brother's potential and their relationship.
"I'm asking you to do nothing. That's what I'm asking you."
This line captures Charley's moral weakness perfectly. He begs Terry not to testify against Johnny Friendly, knowing it's wrong but lacking the courage to support his brother's moral awakening. His passivity becomes his downfall, as he cannot bring himself to choose definitively between competing loyalties.
Key Points to Remember:
- Terry Malloy undergoes a complete transformation from passive accomplice to moral hero, driven by guilt, love, and growing awareness of his actions' consequences
- Edie Doyle serves as the film's moral compass, representing idealism and the belief that people should care for one another in a corrupt world
- Father Barry translates religious faith into social action, refusing to remain passive and challenging others to act morally despite danger
- Johnny Friendly maintains power through fear and violence, but his authority crumbles when people find the courage to speak truth to power
- Charley Malloy's tragic fate results from his inability to choose between family loyalty and criminal obligation, showing how moral compromise ultimately destroys relationships