Carl's Role In Frank's Life example essay topic

In the small town I am from there is a young man named Marty Coppice. Marty is somewhat mentally retarded. He is however free from any physical handicaps and for the most part able to function on his own. In the time I went school with Marty I saw him being treated badly by many students.

He was continually made fun of and had many cruel jokes played on him... However, Marty remained in a good mood holding no grudges against the students, but no matter how badly students treated Marty he remained friendly to all. He felt particularly strong for another challenged girl. He would get very upset sometimes pushing or shoving a person who gave her a hard time. In many ways I find Marty similar to the main character of Slingblade, Carl. Carl is slightly mentally challenged, although he is able to function on his own.

He like Marty has been ridiculed and made fun of, yet does not hold it against people. Carl like Marty found someone he identified with, Frank, and it is only when Frank is threatened that Carl becomes violent. The movie Slingblade is based on Carl a somewhat retarded man who is released from a mental hospital. He has spent the majority of his life there after killing his motherland the man he caught her having an affair with. Once released he returns to his hometown, a small rural community, where he knows nobody. Eventually he gets a job install engine repair shop where he lives in back of the shop.

He is then befriended by a young boy, Frank, who invites Carl to live with him. Carl moves into Frank and his mothers garage. While Frank and his mother enjoy Carl living in the garage the mother's boyfriend, Doyle, objects. Doyle is very abusive and a heavy drinker. The movie ends with Carl being recommitted to the mental hospital after killing the boyfriend who had threatened Frank and his Mother. This story is a struggle of Carl trying to adapt to an outside world which he has never been exposed to.

Carl has never had a decision t make because he was raised in an hierarchical society, so he is forced to become an individual trying to adapt to society which is completely unfamiliar to him. This struggle is evident upon his release from the hospital when he goes to the Frosty Cream restaurant. Carl is very confused as to how and what to order to eat. He asked the waiter several questions about what to eat including what they have and what the waiter would recommend.

He eventually settles for French fries because they are what is familiar to him. In a continuing search for something common he returns to the hospital because this is all he knows He does not understand how to become part of the group because he doesn t know who the group is. His world of agreement has been completely destroyed. He is extremely disoriented as all his surroundings and the choices he is forced to make are unusual to him.

His reorientation begins with his job at Cox's small engine repair shop. This provides some structure to his life and gives him a place where he belongs. The second step in there orientation process is his relationship with Frank. This assist in him feeling more belonging to a society which he is trying to become apart of. His relationship with Frank begins as just friends. He then finds a special bond with Frank in that both were dealt a difficult hand in life.

Carl evolves as almost a father figure to Frank and as Carl's role in Frank's life becomes more prevalent the reorientation becomes more complete.