Muriel's Wedding

Personal Growth in Muriel’s Wedding and Yolngu Boy.

Through a discussion of both films Muriel’s Wedding directed by P.J Hogan and Yolngu Boy directed by Stephen Johnson different issues affecting the personal growth of characters can be seen. This essay will focus on the issues of family, friendship and place which throughout both films affect and influence the personal growth and development of both the characters of Muriel Heslop and Botj.
The issue of family in the film Muriel’s wedding affects the personal growth and development of Muriel’s sense of self and identity. Muriel is constantly bullied and made to feel inadequate and is seen as nothing but a ‘useless dole bludger’ in the eyes of her father Bill Heslop. In the Chinese restaurant
When Muriel moves to Sydney and finally leaves Porpoise Spit her confidence and self worth develops so far that she changes her name to Mariel and creates a new identity. Sydney influences and affects Muriel’s personal growth and development as it provides the place in which her dreams become a reality. However, Muriel comes to the realisation that her shallow dreams of getting married meant nothing and that her new identity of Mariel is a false identity. This action signifies the biggest turning point in the film as Muriel’s personal growth has developed so much she finally has true confidence and believes in herself and the identity of Muriel
Botj’s personal growth is affected like Muriel’s by the rejection from his family, his mother refuses to see him as she is scared for her safety and his father didn’t visit him in jail. Botj is not only rejected by his real family but also his tribal family as he is not presented with the manhood ceremony given to Lorrpu and Milika by the elder Dawu. Botj’s personal growth is affected by this as he cannot enter the next stage of personal development, manhood. As a result of this Botj feels rejected by his family leaving him with a low sense of self worth and confidence which leads him to attack and burn the community centre.
The issue of friendship is also a positive effect on the personal growth of Botj. On the boys journey to Darwin Botj proves himself when he spears the boys first sea turtle and Lorrpu reinstates Botj as leader ‘You can be in charge again’ this builds Botj’s confidence and positively impacts his personal growth. This suggests that Botj has proved his manhood to Lorrpu and Milika and they except and believe that he has changed from his damaging ways. The boys’ strong bond and friendship throughout the years is reaffirmed in this gesture and Botj’s confidence in himself