O Brother, Where Art Thou?: FIST FIGHT IN THE WOOLWORTH

[maikuu]

[jy03429184]

This is Adam. Form this short sequence we know in 1930s america between the man's fight is so simple, just cause the man who say[s] some bad words to someone and they [are] going to fight each other. And in that year, status and regardless is very important. For Vernon, he gets prospects. He's bona fide, so that women think with him she will get happiness. But with her husband maybe she will [be] poor. Also we saw in that movie the Woolworth maybe is best store in that town, but in this store everything is still cheep, even though commodities are cheep, poor people can not buy them.

Teacher's Note: Well done. I'm impressed by how you noticed that the Woolworth is the best store in town. Thanks for being the first to post.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[Mesharii]

I think the fistfight reveals that the American society in 1930s wasn't as safe as America nowadays because if the same situation happens nowadays they will get into troubles because of the fight. Having a fight was very easy in 1930s and you may get into a fight with any other man for any reason. I think also it was a shy truth to say that your husband or anyone from your family is in prison and we saw how the wife transacted when her husband went to the prison by saying that her husband died.

Teacher's Note: Yes I think there were fewer regulations against abuse back in the 1930s. Many of the protections we have today did not come into place until the second half of the 20th century. Perhaps there was greater shame for going to prison in those days simply because there were fewer laws, or reasons to end up in prison. Thanks for posting.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[urgnoh]

In my opinion, the Fistfight in the Woolworth reveal [s] that many people did not have a job and they were very poor. On the other hand, If a man had a job, he were successful and he could have a good life. Also, women wanted to follow a man who had great prospect. Although everything was low price, earning money was very difficult.

Teacher's Note: This is an amazing post for being concise and IMHO very accurate. Thanks for a cool [post.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[f959f959]

The 1930's were a turbulent and tough time for many Americans. This movie really reflects how people lived in that period. Even though it shows how prices were cheaper and life was more modest, some people were suffering. For instance, penal farm[s] where prisoners were usually working for manual labour, largely in open air, such as in agriculture and logging [Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_farm]. Some people consider this work kind of slavery because a lot of workers were unluckily persecuted. In sum, some people would be thankful for being born after that rough time.

Faisal 2

Teacher's Note: Great post. It's historically accurate that in this time, there were work prisons which were considered by some to be almost like slave camps. The most famous was known as Parchman Farm in Mississippi, but I think it is no longer active. According to Wikipedia there have been penal farms even in Canada.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[jabreil1992]

in my opinion, i think the scene that we watch[ed] reveal[s] the time that people in the U.S was lived in hard time so people was [were] looking for a best living. Penny left her husband because she think [thought] he died, but when he return back and she knew that he still live, but she decided to marry Vernon Waldrip because he got the money and everyone in the town respect[ed] him. she called her husband a drifter and forgot the time they have been together.

Teacher's Note: First comment: please check for GPS. There are a few grammar issues. Second, this post is a wonderful summary, but to respond to the prompt, it needs to make an observation about the historical context. Overall, good post. Big thanks.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[eoh1029]

At that time, the historical background is 1930s. At 1930 in USA, they suffered from the Great Depression. So, their economy was pretty underdeveloped. Most of the Americans were poor and some of them couldn't afford for raise their children. In this situation, Penny has 7 daughters and her husband went to the penal farm. I think, to Penny her children are more important than love. She has to earn a lot of money or meet rich guy to raise her daughters because she can't by herself. Most of the ladies during the '30s were just looking for money for a better life. In addition, seeing the results of the fight between Everett and Vernon in the woolworth store, the people of that time thought success and honor are more critical than others.

Teacher's Note: "Penny's children were more important than love," is an amazing thought, filled with truth and irony. I say irony because her devotion to her children is a kind of love in itself, yet in this context it also represents basic survival. Perhaps Everett wouldn't get in a fistfight in today's world where he wouldn't be in such a desperate situation. He too seemed to only want to care for his kids. Great post. thanks.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[azo0o0z117]

This is Abdulaziz.
There was poverty at that time. It was not easy to find respectful job that can help in build[ing] a family and meet its needs. It was clear from the short sequence of fistfight of the Woolworth Everett McGill wasn't able to meet his family needs because he was in a jail this is why his wife wanted to marry [the] other guy who is respectable and able to meet her and their children's needs.

Teacher's Note: A very concise post. "There was poverty at the time," is what we call an understatement. In other words, one could also say,"There was stark poverty and suffering everywhere you looked." But that is kind of wordy, and it dilutes the core point. Penny is forced to make a simple choice between a sweet-talking drifter and a guy who can buy clarinet lessons or her kids. Sad. Thanks for the post.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[Abdullah11]

The first time I saw this movie, I noticed that there were many amarican people back in the 1930s [who] didn't have jobs, and some people were poor. Also as you know women like to follow rich men. Even though it shows after Everett McGill get[s] off prison. He wanted to [have] his family back so, he went to The Woolworth store. Everett talked to his wife, and he found she got married. Also we saw in this movie the Woolworth is best store in that town, but in that store everything is cheep no thing more than 20 pence, even though goods are cheep. I still enjoy it quite a bit.

Teacher's Note: Glad you got on board with a nice post. Good observations here and even some inference about the 1930s. It's funny about the Woolworth. I wonder why it's the best store in town? Glad you like O Brother, Where Art Thou? It's still one of my favorites.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[Madinka243]

This short sequence for "Fistfight in the Woolworth" reveals us economical difficulties at that time. We can notice it from the scene when a wife of the main character Penny preferred to say her 7 daughters that their dad is dead and even if she still loves Everett she was going to get married with respectable man with bright future. She just wanted to find some ways how to provide her daughters. I think nobody can blame her because as a mother she always wanted for her children only best in their life. Everett after jail was not best choice for supporting their family; therefore she choose Vernon.

Moderator: Ah-ha. . . ! You noticed that Penny still loves Everett, and yet . . .AND YET she is still willing to marry bug eyes Waldrip (sorry for the diss). And why? Because he can pay for clarinet lessons for her daughters. That does say a lot about the economics of the times. Thanks for an insightful post.

--mike www.moviesgrowenglish.com