Compare and contrast three pivotal choices or decisions made by Jamal and Salim. How do their choices affect their respective paths in life or “destinies”? Do you think that such choices we make as non-fictional characters (you know "real people") create a path of destiny?
Moriah Calfin
ReplyDelete1. Salim and Jamal run away together after their mother is killed. If the two had gone separate ways, the whole story of Jamal and Latyka would be different. I don't think Jamal had much of a choice at the time since he was young and Salim was the only family he had left, but if someone else had taken care of the two boys, maybe Salim would have grown up with respect and trust in his life.
2. Salim tells Jamal to run before his eyes are taken out. This is an important moment because Salim's good side is shown. Throughout the movie Salim does something bad and then something good to try to even it out. By having salim in the 'inner circle' saved Jamal's life. Salim knew what would happen to Jamal and saved his brother.
3. Salim lets Latyka escape. This is the biggest moment of the movie. Throughout the whole story, Salim always lets Latyka be left behind because he knows if Latyka stayed, Jamal would forget about Salim. Salim feels like he should have the right because he is the older brother. By having Latyka gone, Jamal will always have to go back to Salim. Why Salim lets Latyka go is because he knows he's going to probably be killed and so will Latyka.
I think that every choice we make will change our path of destiny. Destiny is intertwined with time and each choice we choose takes up time.
There are many decisions that all of the characters in this movie face. The first moment that really stood out to me though was when Salim not only locked Jamal in the bathroom, but then sold the autograph he had wanted so bad. These were both conscious choices made by Salim, and this was the first part of the movie where he was portrayed as someone who could hurt Jamal. If Salim had never made this first bad choice, maybe later in life he would have become a different person. Instead he ends up killing Maman, and once he realizes he can kill people, starts to depend on that terrible skill to make his money.
ReplyDeleteAnother pivotal moment was when Salim chose to save his brother, rather than to let him have his eye burned. Salim chose family over money that time, but it was a constant struggle he faced, often choosing money instead, as he did in my first example. His struggle is shown right after he saves Jamal, because he chooses not to save Latika, telling Jamal he needed to forget about her and move on. But what if Salim had saved Latika too? Would she and Jamal still feel such a love connection? Or what if Jamal had listened and forgotten about Latika? What would have happened to her? I think their separation is what made their love so strong. The fact that they were separated made them inseparable.
Going off of the last point that Moriah made, I also believe that Salim letting Latika escape at the end was a pivotal moment. Salim finally had the money that he wanted, he could have stayed, but unlike Moriah, I do not think that he let her go because he thought they would be killed. I think that Salim realized that life with money was not the life he had always hoped for. He finally realized that what he was doing was wrong, and he saw that even if he let Latika go, his relationship with Jamal would be forever broken. In all of this realization, Salim decided that what was best would be to let Latika go, at least he could give Jamal what he had always wanted. Unfortunately, he had to sacrifice himself, but he seemed to believe that was the right thing to do. In a way though, he still wasn't able to repair everything with his brother, because the group who had Latika before Salim set her free, will still come after her and she and Jamal will never be completely safe, even if they are together.
Jamal would always say that it was his and Latika's "destiny" to be together, but that isn't true, he made it his destiny. He chose to keep looking for her. He chose not to forget about her and let her go, even when she asked him to. I think that the choices we make as non-fictional characters create our own destiny. In a way, there is no pre-determined destiny. Our lives change and are shaped based on the choices we make. Everyone has a choice. No one is meant to be with a certain person, those two people choose to stay with each other. It is no one's destiny to be happy or sad, you have to make choices that will lead you to a good life.
1. When Salim recaptures Latika when she goes to the train station to meet Jamal. This was a huge moment because Jamal not only lost Latika again, he was also betrayed by his brother- again. This event made Jamal lose what little faith he had left in his older brother, and Salim realized it.
ReplyDelete2. When Jamal and Salim journey back to their home city in order to find Latika. It is made clear that Jamal had persuaded Salim to make the journey back, leaving what Salim called a "good life" at the Taj Mahal, as salesmen and 'tour guides'. This event impresses upon the viewer how important Latika is to Jamal and to the story.
3. When Salim kills Maman. This is a huge turning point for both brothers. For Salim, it is because he has killed a man. He has found what is to become his career. For Jamal, it is because he has witnessed what his brother is capable of. Salim becomes faulty in his eyes for the first time since the death of their mother.
I don't think destiny really exists. There aren't set paths that each person is set to follow. Choices you make as an individual impact you and only you, and lead you through your life. There is no set of choices pre-made for you. It is what it is, not what is written.
Emma Fleuette
1. In the very beginning, when Salim and Jamal were sleeping under shelter, away from the rain, Salim didn't want Latika to join them, whereas Jamal wanted to invite her over. If Jamal hadn't invited Latika into the shelter with them, Jamal wouldn't have realized that he loved her, and wouldn't have tried to keep reconnecting with her throughout the movie. Salim also wouldn't have had to push Jamal away, or cut Latika's cheek when he found her in the train station.
ReplyDelete2. When Jamal goes to the house and finds Latika and tells her that she should leave with him, was another pivotal choice. If Jamal hadn't told Latika that he would be waiting for her at the train station everyday, Latika wouldn't have left the man in charge, and wouldn't have been taken back by Salim, who ended up scarring her face.
3. One of the most pivotal choices in the movie, was when Salim openly helped Latika leave the house that she was being held in. In doing so, Salim showed his good side, which only came out a few times in the movie. Salim knew that if Latika stayed, they would both be killed in the end, and knowing that Latika and Jamal both had strong feelings for eachother, Salim wanted to ensure Jamal's happiness before he was killed.
I believe that "destiny" is a subject of belief. Some do, and some do not. I believe that every action, and every choice that we make every day, has an impact on who we are not only today, but also the future. I may not believe that there is a certain "person" that I will be in the end of my life, but that there is an infinite range of who I may be. With every choice and action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, so choose wisely.
~Garrett Smith
1. A pivotal moment for Salim would be when he and Jamal find latika for the first time and Salim kills Maman. That was a major turning point for Salim because he figured out that he could kill people and make a living out of it. Salim would take the darker path of life as he goes to join a gang to continued killing people to make more money. But Jamal also loses Latika that very same night when Salim kicks him out and keeps latika for himself. Jamal is forced to go on with his life and find his own way to make money and has to completely start over. Jamal a little later becomes a errand boy for a Phone service company.
ReplyDelete2. Finally another pivotal point in both their lives was when Salim recaptures Latika, after she goes to the train station to meet Jamal and try to escape the gang. Salim yet again betrays his only brother by taking away his true love. But it was also Jamal's choice in coaxing Latika to leave the gangs house which threw her into the line of fire. Salim decides to betray his brother again and again which leads him down the wrong path in his life. Jamal by accident lost the love of his life because of his brother but also because of his on actions in convincing latika to leave the house of which she was being held against her will.
3. Another pivotal moment would be when Salim lets Latika go in the end, he was sort of trying to repent for his crimes and make up for what he did. He gives her the keys to a car and sets her free and then practically commits suicide in a bathtub with a lot of money. Salim chose this path for him self from the very beginning. Latika finally finds Jamal and we suspect that they live happily ever after and this is the path that Jamal chose for himself .. partially. Without Salim's dissensions and choices no matter how bad they did end up affecting Jamal.
I don't think that destiny is real but the choices u make now can and will affect you future. I think there there aren't set paths that each person is meant to follow. Choices you make as an individual impact you and only you and occasionally others around you like Salim affected Jamal. everything will balance out in the end and karma will have its revenge. Like Garret Smith said " With every choice and action, there is an equal and opposite reaction..." So we all have to be very diligent about the choices we make and think how it might affect our future.
~Molly McCarty~
1. When Salim decides to work with the gangster of their town, kill people, and do as his boss orders, no matter what the job. This affected his path in life by completely changing his attitude towards Jamal and causing the life of Latika to be put into danger.
ReplyDelete2. Towards the beginning of the movie when Jamal allowed Latika to join the under the roof while it was raining. This affected all three of their destinies greatly, this brought Latika into their lives, this caused Jamal to look for her everywhere when he left and caused him to put his life in danger and cause Salim to turn against him when they were in the hotel.
3. When Salim purposefully lets go of Latika’s hand when they are running from the man and trying to escape onto the train. This affected all of their lives, it affected the life of Latika’s because the men caught her and then treated her very poorly until the two boys came and saved her. This caused Jamal to spend much of his time looking for her and wondering about her every day.
4. I believe there is something like destiny and it exists in everyone. The choices that you make were the choices that were a part of your destiny, choices that you make through your life does not change your destiny.
-Brian Mitchell
1. When both Salim and Jamal are hiding out in the shelter after their mother had been killed, Salim refuses to let Latika join. While Salim is asleep, Jamal lets Latika in, thus beginning their friendship. This decision effected their destiny's later in life because, if Jamal had not let her in, he would have never discovered his love for her, and the countless reconnections between the two throughout the movie, would have never occurred.
ReplyDelete2. Another pivotal moment from the film was when Salim recaptures Latika after she had gone to the train station to leave with Jamal. If she had not been captured again, Jamal would have never been on the show, because his main reason for being on the show was because he figured Latika would be watching.
3. Im not exactly sure if this would "qualify" as a pivotal moment, but during the show, Jamal was stuck on the million dollar question. During the commercial break, the host fed him the wrong answer. Instead of going with the answer he was given, he chose the other answer, which was correct. If he had gone with the hosts answer, he would have never made it to the next question, which he then used to phone Latika and later reconnect with her.
I don't believe in destiny. I believe everything happens for a reason, but I don't believe there are any set paths in which each person is meant to follow. I think that the decisions made in life, lead you throughout.
-Callie
Throughout the movie Slumdog Millionaire, Jamal and Salim had to make many pivotal decisions. One crucial part of the story was when Salim let go of Latika’s hand as he and Jamal escaped Maman. Had this not happened, the story of these three friends would have been completely different. Jamal would never needed to go on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and he would never have faced the consequences of knowing most of the answers on that show. He would not have been separated from Latika at all. I agree with Kgurl197 that “separation made [Jamal and Latika] inseparable,” and as the two spent more time apart, Jamal became increasingly determined to reunite with her. In addition to this, had the three stayed together, Salim would have not needed to kill Maman, and thus would not have gotten the erroneous message that there are no consequences for murder.
ReplyDeleteAnother important decision was when Salim separated Jamal and Latika in the train station. For Jamal, this was the last time he saw Latika before going on the quiz show. He was left with thoughts of how they could have run away together. Because of the uncertainty of what happened to Latika after she was captured, Jamal decided to go on the show in order to find her. This scene had an impact on Salim as well. He openly captured Latika in front of Jamal, which showed that Salim succumbed to his greed instead of helping his own brother. He also gave up pretending that he was forced to let Latika go in front of Jamal, and realized that his relationship with Jamal was lost.
This brings me to the last critical decision Salim made: helping Latika escape and go to Jamal. I agree with Moriah that Salim was jealous of Latika’s relationship with Jamal. Salim wanted to be the only one Jamal was close with, so he kept on trying to make Jamal forget her. Towards the end, Salim knew Jamal no longer looked up to him, and decided to make up for his past actions. This caused him to be killed by the gangster he worked for. However, had he not let Latika reunite with Jamal, Salim would have had to live with the knowledge that he ruined his relationship with his brother as well as see Jamal desperately try and fail to see Latika again.
While Jamal believed that every decision he made was because of destiny, I disagree. I think people have the power to create their own destinies through their decisions. Every choice a person makes changes them, their future, and impacts others. I completely agree with Garrett that “there is an infinite range of who [someone] might be.” For every event, there are many different decisions one can make, and I believe that every decision has a different outcome. At the end of the day, every experience shapes who a person becomes, whether or not the choice was good or bad.
Throughout their lives, Salim and Jamal go through many trying situations and experiences that require them to make pivotal decisions. Their contrasting characteristics are reflected in their choices and the multiple obstacles they face define not only who they will be, but what they will do in the future. A particularly important series of decisions that Salim faces bring him to work for a wealthy gangster and have the career of doing his “dirty work” for him. Although both Salim and Jamal had to turn to lying and thievery when they were children in order to stay alive, the jobs they both end up with show how their values may have changed, in Jamal’s case, or stayed the same, in Salim’s case. Despite not making as much money, Jamal is content with his job because he was no longer comfortable making money in a dishonest manner. A second pivotal moment is when Salim and Jamal return to the city in which they grew up in order to find Latika. Although it is inferred that Jamal “forced” Salim to go back, this shows a change in character for Salim because previously he had enforced his authority on Jamal, preventing Jamal from making his own choices either for himself or the both of them. At this point, Salim continues to act as a guardian figure for Jamal but rather than doing what he feels best for Jamal, he is allowing Jamal to do what he feels will make himself happy. However, his reluctance to go and disappointment in Jamal’s choice to continue to find Latika shows that Salim still does not understand the importance of relationships in relation to happiness whereas Jamal still feels it is a main focus in his life. The third choice I felt was highly critical for both Salim and Jamal was when Salim helped Latika escape from the gangster and find Jamal. At this point, Salim shows a side of his character that was not seen throughout the movie. Salim had always doubted the importance of Latika and Jamal’s relationship but at that moment he makes the decision that their happiness is more important to him than living with the current career he has.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that some things happen for a reason but I don’t necessarily believe in destiny. I think the choices we make in our lives can change our “path” in life and in that way, we are constantly changing our own destinies.
1. Jamal invites Latika to sleep in the storage container when it is raining after their slum gets attacked and their parents get killed. If Latika would have not been invited into their container, the lives of Jamal and Salim would have never changed. Jamal would be a tea walker for the Telecom Company, and Jamal would be killing people for gangs. Also, Latika would have most likely ended up dead or in a different slum.
ReplyDelete2. Another of Jamal’s pivotal decisions is when he decides to follow Salim back to the gangster’s house to find Latika. This is a pivotal decision because if he had not tried to find her, he would have never gotten her to escape and run to the train station to see him. Also, if she had not escaped, Salim would have not known that Latika still needed to be with Jamal. If Salim didn’t know that then he would not have let her out and answer Jamal’s call. Salim would also still be alive and preforming horrific crimes for the gangster.
3. The final critical moment in Jamal’s life is when he is in the bathroom with the game show host and the host writes the wrong answer on the mirror, but Jamal chooses the different answer. The fact that Jamal has learned not to trust people through his life, from being taken advantage of by Maman, to being lied to by Salim. All of the bad things that happened to Jamal made him not trust others and that payed off for him in the end.
I believe some things happen for a reason, but there is not one single predetermined path for each person in the world. That being said, each decision that is made definitely has a domino effect on the rest of your life.
yes our choices do affect how our lives end up, such as Salim kicking Jamal out of the apartment, he sets his future as a gangster and Jamal's future for hating Salim, Salim getting killed in the tub of cash, and Salim kidnapping Litika. -Jesse Nathan
ReplyDelete1. I think one of the first pivotal moments in the movies was when Jamal let Latyka stay with them after they got attacked and their parents were killed. If Jamal hadn't let her in, despite Salim's instance to let her fend for herself, he would not have found love. Throughout the movie Jamal and Latyka's paths kept on crossing. As for Salim, he continued down the same path of narrow minded thinking.
ReplyDelete2. The second pivotal moment in the movie is when Salim saves Jamal's life. Salim was caught up in money and power at the camp. He witnessed a fellow kin get his eyes burned out. When it was Jamal's opportunity to get his eyes burned out, Salim saved. Salim chose family over greed in this instance. As for Jamal, he still had the gift of eye sight after that.
3. The final pivotal moment was when Jamal and Salim went back into the gangster house to Latyka. The three of them get cornered in the house and Salim, who came armed, made the executive decision to kill Maman. After that happened, Salim followed a dark road down the life of crime and murder. Jamal, who was horrified that this happened, would still be looking for the love of his life.
I think that whether we know it or not our choices affect our futures and destiny's. In the moment, especially faced with yes or no questions, we are subconsciously creating a path for our future.
I wouldn’t say I necessarily do or do not believe in destiny, because it appears to be occur randomly instead of a one decision leads to another type of thing. I believe that destiny, should it exist, must have a gigantic buildup time. For instance, the period during Jamal’s life where he was a teawalker for the Telecom Company was virtually empty, but merely led up to the point in which he found his brother, Salim, listed. His choice in calling Salim was vital for the story, for everything thereafter would not have happened - this would be the idea of destiny, where one choice leads to another. But it causes me to wonder: what was the point in all the empty space in the timeline where nothing as important happened in Jamal’s life? Him calling Salim and being recognized by his brother led to their meeting, to the topic of Latika (Latyka?), and to the action of finding her again (which is the guiding theme of the movie).
ReplyDeleteAnother instance of a choice determining some sort of fate was when Salim let go of Latika when he and Jamal were escaping a horrid fate, via train. Though quite obvious he let go of Latika on purpose, the same result would have occurred as a byproduct: that she was left behind and the brothers were forced to move on without her. The popular idea behind destiny, in my opinion, is that the universe (or some kind of random force or power) demands a specific end result that absolutely must be achieved by a person. This would imply that no one’s decisions actually have any impact, for their choice(s) have already been made for them; they just have not actually physically committed to that choice yet. But they will.
A final example of a pivotal decision was when, directly before the train escape, young Jamal and Salim worked together to evade the consequence of staying with the creepy guy with the boiling spoons. The decision made by Salim to not only save his brother and escape with him, but have Jamal rip 100 rupees off him, was the largest example of teamwork through family in the whole movie. Unfortunately, one scene later, Salim betrays his brother and Latika. If destiny does exist, why would it spiral the end result of Jamal finally being with Latika in thirty million different directions? I think everybody has the opportunity to carve their own “destiny,” so to speak, so that they, and they alone, create the final result.
-Andrew Vintah