The handshake

« --- Informations sur l'utilisateur --- Sujet que l'utilisateur souhaitait consulter : (Id: 103108) La culture est-elle un rempart contre la barbarie ? Nom : Annastasia ROQUE E-mail : [email protected] Id user : 77796Vente autorisée : OuiPour visualiser son profil suivez ce lien : http://www.devoir-de-philosophie.com/compte/Nana.html --- Informations sur le document transmis --- Titre : The handshake Catégorie: Langues Envoyé par copier/coller --- Contenu du document --- Contenu du copier/coller: The handshake This text entitled "The handshake" was taken from a novel: Philadelphia, written by Christopher Davis in 1993.

A film was madestarring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington.It deals with a lawyer who has fired from his firm because he have AIDS.

He went to MrMcDermott to ask for help.This text falls into two parts:-l1 down to l22: tell us about a cordial relationship between both men.-l23 downto the end: focus on from kindness to rejectionAndrew Beckett is a young and bright lawyer who has a good reputation, we know heworks for Wyant, Weeler which must be one of the biggest law-firm in Philadelphia.

He is the rising star of this law-firm.MisterMcDermott has Irish descendants but he had difficulties to overcome his status because we may imagine that his parents wre ratherpoor and uneducated and that he had to work very hard to become successful because he had to face the very exclusive WASPssociety in Philadelphia.This is why he regards himself as a second-rate lawyer if compared to Andrew Beckett who is according to him afirst-rate one.

He certainly puts Andrew on a pedestal.McDermott must belong to the middle class (l4,5,6 show it) through thedescription of his office and his suit which is custom made.

All this shows he has succeeded quite nicely in his job.

There are "hard-wonstatus symbols".McDermott considers Andrew as a powerful, influent man, he regards him as a winner, an example to follow.

He knowshis reputation and h imagines he wants to leave Wyant, Weeler and become his partner.

Moreover having an Adrew Beckett in his firmwould be an asset for him.He greets him by shaking hands with him and l7 "he motioned expansively" show he's quite nervous andstressed because he's both impressed, and anxious to know what he's here for.L21 when Andrew Beckett breaks the news, McDermottis shoked, shinned, amazed, aghast, flabbergast ..., he can't believe his ears.

This is why he makes him repeat what he has justsaid.Andrew Beckett wants McDermott to sur Wyant, Weeler for employement discrimination.

Firing him for having AIDS is simplyunacceptable to Andrew Beckett.He is dumbfounded because he didn't expect such a revelation.The turning point of the text is markedby two sentences:“I want to sue Wyant Wheeler for employment discrimination” (line 18)“They fired me yesterdaybecause I have AIDS” (line 21)L23 McDermott feels incapable to defend Andrew Beckett.

He doesn't feel up to the task.

He isassure that it won't be easy but he is not ready to take up the challenge.

It reveals that McDermott is aware of the limits of hisprofessional capacities.

It also reveals his inferiority complex.

Winning the case would prove his worth, would show everybody howgood lawyer he is.

But we may understand his reaction all the more as if he fails he will be ruined and he's not ready to take the riskbecause it was really difficult for him to become successful.Andrew Beckett has just realised McDermott was about to refuse his offer.This is why he suggest he could get 30% of all the money they would get if they won the case.Whereas at the beggining of the interviewhe calls Andrew Beckett "Mister Beckett" and adresses him the way an inferior would address a superior, now it's different.

AndrewBeckett is no longer the winner.

He has fallen from his pedestal.

McDermott suddenly feels superior.

Andrew is juste an AIDS-carrierwho is no longer to be feared and respected.

The use of "son" stresses the reversal of situation.

Mr McDermott feelings for AndrewBeckett have changed from respect to scorn, from admiration to rejection.On the one hand, Mc Dermott admires him though suddenlywe feel as if all this admiration had gone; at that very moment he feels pity and scorn though he seems to have sort of friendly feelingsfor him.

The reader may have mixed feelings; it is true that suing Wyant, Weeler may cost Mc Dermott's career and reputation.

But onthe other and, he could become the first class lawyer he has always dreamt of but he doesn't seems to be ready for now.

So this is whynot only does he kick him out (line 29) but washes his hands as if this way he could stop HIV.

This shows that he doesn't know he can'tbe contaminated through casual contact, which is surprising for such an intelligent man, which raises the problem of the percentage ofpeople who know about AIDS.As a conclusion, we can say that AIDS will remain a topical problem today as long as a vaccine has notbeen found, so which means as long as more and more people regularly die from that disease.

Moreover, we can't help noticing thateven if people try to accept AIDS carriers in society, even if young people consider them on an equal footing with them, many peoplestill look down on AIDS carriers.From my point of view this text is interesting for the end of the text which shows that in 1990 hisattitude was characteristic of people’s paranoia: because it was a new disease and they didn’t know in which way youcould be infected.But we can say that today, prejudices doesn't leave all the people, some of them doesn't know how you can had anAIDS infection. Document demandé: http://www.devoir-de-philosophie.com/dissertation-culture-rempart-contre-barbarie-103108.html. »