to kill a mockingbird

Penley 2

First Name Last Name

Ms. Jane Taylor

English 2201

September 14, 2017

Summary Analysis Response Essay #1

The coming-of-age comedy entitled Breaking Away, directed by Peter Yates, depicts a young man named Dave Stohler whose obsession with bicycle racing creates both conflict and a path to resolution. Dave is a dynamic character and is one that the audience can easily relate to. He has an optimistic outlook on life. Initially, the plot revolves around his goal of achieving success as a cyclist and his admiration for the Italian cycling team. His journey includes many conflicts involving his parents, his friends, his “girlfriend,” and the Italian cycling team that visits his hometown. As Dave develops as a character, he begins to see beyond the dogmatic dream and understands the dangers and disappointment of idolization.

Dave’s perseverance, determination, personality, and his faint degree of realism make Dave an arguably likeable and sympathetic character. His physical appearance of a thin, toned athletic body type make him appear to be a perfect and heroic protagonist around which the plot revolves. Experiencing hardship in relationships, frustration and uncertainty with one’s future, a seemingly inevitable failure to attain a dream, and his dilemma as a “cutter” are especially resonant to adolescent and young adult audiences who are likely to experience similar hardships. His father’s early lack of empathy and cold sense of practicality make Dave seem even further sympathetic to people who have experienced similar friction within their families. Though somewhat flawed in his decision to impress through lies and pretend to be something he is not, his rises and falls through his coming-of-age, his overcoming difficulties, and challenging his preconceived look on life present a very dynamic, interesting, and sympathetic character.

I relate to Dave because like him, I am an athlete and have always wanted to excel in my sport, which is soccer. For many years, I put professional soccer players a pedestal, and I have found myself idolizing many of them over the years. When I graduated from high school, like Dave, I realized that my dream of becoming a professional might never come true. It has been a hard lesson, but it has enabled me to rethink what I want to do in life. Unlike Dave, however, my relationship with my father is warm and caring. He has always been my biggest fan, and I think he is more disappointed than I am that my dream will not come true. My mother, on the other hand, is relieved because she always worried about sports injuries. So while my parents aren’t similar to Dave’s, I see the young cyclist wannabe as someone whom I can relate to and root for in all of his endeavors in life.