Traditionally, man′s best friend is supposed to be a domestic animal like a cat or a dog. People are convinced that these animals can understand their feelings and can support them whenever help is needed. But most of these people would deny that such a relationship is possible to an animal like a killer whale.
During the preparation of this seminar paper I have been asking some people what first comes to their minds when thinking of a whale. In general the answers can be summarised as follows: huge, dangerous, arouses fear, frightening and belong to a time that is long ago. But none of the people I have been speaking to so far could imagine that close contact to such a big mammal is possible. The film (and the book) Free Willy I ( in German: Free Willy: Ruf der Freiheit) describe(s) that the contrary can happen. In the story, the love and affection of a boy are won over by a killer whale, a fact of course, which does not happen too often but is worth being considered.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Plan
- 3. Summary
- 4. Animals in "Free Willy I"
- 4.1. Willy the whale
- 4.2. The seals
- 4.3. A comparison
- 5. The whale Willy and the human beings – the different attitudes and relationships
- 5.1. Jesse and Willy - an unusual but real friendship
- 5.2. Randolph, Rae and Willy
- 5.3. Dial, Wade and the whale - use and abuse
- 6. Keiko's (Willy's) real life
- 6.1. Keiko's life until 1993
- 6.2. Keiko's life after the production of “Free Willy I”
- 6.3. Keiko's today's situation – the latest news (5th of April 2002)
- 6.4. My opinion
- 7. A comparison of the posters
- 8. Conclusive remarks
- 9. Literary sources
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the portrayal of Willy, the killer whale, in the film "Free Willy I," analyzing the interactions between Willy and the human characters and contrasting the film's depiction of the whale with Keiko's real-life experiences. The paper aims to explore the differing attitudes and relationships humans have with wild animals, particularly focusing on the complexities of captivity and the potential for genuine connection. * The representation of Willy the whale and its contrast to the portrayal of seals. * The diverse human-animal relationships depicted in the film, ranging from friendship to exploitation. * The comparison between Willy’s fictional narrative and the real-life circumstances of Keiko, the whale who played Willy. * The exploration of societal perceptions and stereotypes concerning wild animals. * The film's portrayal of animal captivity and its ethical implications.Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central premise of the paper, questioning the common perception of whales as dangerous and exploring the possibility of a close relationship between humans and killer whales, as depicted in "Free Willy I." The author introduces the unconventional nature of the human-whale bond depicted in the film and positions the subsequent analysis as a discussion of this unusual narrative. 3. Summary: This chapter provides a concise synopsis of the film "Free Willy I," focusing on the plotline involving Jesse, a troubled youth, who forms an unlikely friendship with Willy, the killer whale, and works to free him from his captivity. The summary highlights the main plot points, including Jesse's delinquent behavior, his assigned probation at the Aquatic Theatre, his developing relationship with Willy, the failed "Free Willy Show," the sabotage of Willy's tank, and the eventual freeing of the whale. 4. Animals in "Free Willy I": This chapter analyzes the portrayal of animals in the film, primarily focusing on Willy the whale and the seals. It contrasts the awe and fascination inspired by Willy's presence with the relatively insignificant and comical portrayal of the seals in their show. The disparity in presentation underscores different societal attitudes toward various animals, highlighting the unique status and inherent power associated with the killer whale compared to the trained seals. 5. The whale Willy and the human beings – the different attitudes and relationships: This section delves into the diverse relationships humans have with Willy. It analyzes the unique bond between Jesse and Willy, characterized by genuine affection and loyalty. Conversely, it investigates the exploitative relationship between the whale and his owner, focusing on the commercialization of Willy and the owner’s disregard for the whale's well-being. Different stakeholders' motivations and interactions with Willy are thoroughly explored. 6. Keiko's (Willy's) real life: This chapter compares the happy ending of the film with the real-life experiences of Keiko, the whale who portrayed Willy. It presents Keiko's life both before and after his role in the film, shedding light on his early captivity and the subsequent efforts to rehabilitate and release him into the wild. This section contrasts the idealized narrative of the film with the realities of animal captivity and its impact on the well-being of the animal.Keywords
Free Willy I, killer whale, human-animal relationships, animal captivity, film analysis, Keiko, environmentalism, friendship, exploitation, stereotypes, wild animals, captive animals, animal welfare.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of "Free Willy I"
What is this document about?
This document is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a research paper analyzing the film "Free Willy I." The analysis focuses on the portrayal of the killer whale, Willy, the interactions between Willy and the human characters, and a comparison with the real-life experiences of Keiko, the whale who played Willy. The paper explores themes of human-animal relationships, animal captivity, and the ethical implications of using animals in film.
What topics are covered in the paper?
The paper covers several key themes: the representation of Willy and its contrast to other animals in the film (seals); the diverse human-animal relationships depicted, ranging from friendship to exploitation; a detailed comparison between Willy's fictional narrative and Keiko's real life; societal perceptions and stereotypes concerning wild animals; and the film's portrayal of animal captivity and its ethical implications.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured as follows: an introduction setting the stage; a summary of the film; a chapter dedicated to analyzing the portrayal of animals; a chapter exploring the different human-animal relationships shown; a chapter detailing Keiko's life story; a comparison of film posters (not detailed in the preview); concluding remarks; and a list of literary sources.
What are the main objectives of the paper?
The paper aims to examine the portrayal of Willy in "Free Willy I," analyzing the interactions between Willy and human characters. It seeks to explore the differing attitudes and relationships humans have with wild animals, focusing on captivity and the potential for genuine connection. The comparison between Willy's fictional life and Keiko's reality is a central objective.
What are the key chapter summaries?
The introduction establishes the premise. The summary chapter provides a synopsis of "Free Willy I." The chapter on animals contrasts Willy's portrayal with that of the seals. The chapter on human-animal relationships explores the bond between Jesse and Willy and the exploitative relationships with other characters. The Keiko chapter contrasts the film's happy ending with Keiko's real-life experiences.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Free Willy I, killer whale, human-animal relationships, animal captivity, film analysis, Keiko, environmentalism, friendship, exploitation, stereotypes, wild animals, captive animals, and animal welfare.
What is the significance of Keiko's real-life story in this analysis?
Keiko's real-life story serves as a crucial counterpoint to the idealized narrative of the film. It allows for a critical examination of the realities of animal captivity, the impact of such captivity on the animal's well-being, and the contrast between the happy ending of the film and the often harsh realities faced by animals used in entertainment.
- Quote paper
- Julia Hansens (Author), 2002, Free Willy I - Presentation and Treatment of a Wild Animal, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/8034
