The Ides of March: Analysis
The Ides of March
1. Theme - A political consultant learns that to avoid the tricks and traps of politics he must abandon some of his values.
2. Wants and Needs - Steven shows his want early on when he is speaking to the reporter Ida. He wants Governor Morris to be the next president of the United States. Steven’s needs are much more complicated than his wants. He needs to remain untainted by the games and plays that goes on in politics. The need to remain uncompromised shows itself in the very same scene with Steven Ida and Paul. Steven is the only one really fighting for what he believes in at that table and his response to Ida’s questions almost comes off as self righteous and speechy.
Governor Morris’ wants are to become President of the United States. He is actively seeking the seat and every action taken by him in the movie shows this. His need is similar to Steven’s in that he needs to remain uncorrupted and uncompromising to keep his sense of worth.
Paul’s wants are to help Governor Morris become the next president same as Morris and Steven. His needs are different than either though. He is a veteran when it comes to the political game and has been playing for long enough to know all the tricks. He is not uncompromised and not still idealistic. He needs to retire from the game. He looks over stressed and overworked, and in order to not die early from this stress he needs to get out of the game, or as they say “Start a nice consulting firm off k- street.”
Duffy wants Senator Pullman to win the primary and he is willing to do anything in order for him to accomplish this want. Duffy’s need is to stop being so manipulating of others. In the end it is his manipulation of others that causes his candidate to lose the primary.
Molly is harder to read. I think she just wants to be apart of the process, she doesn't seem too excited about whether the candidate wins or loses. Her need is to start thinking things through and not making rash decisions.
1. Theme - A political consultant learns that to avoid the tricks and traps of politics he must abandon some of his values.
2. Wants and Needs - Steven shows his want early on when he is speaking to the reporter Ida. He wants Governor Morris to be the next president of the United States. Steven’s needs are much more complicated than his wants. He needs to remain untainted by the games and plays that goes on in politics. The need to remain uncompromised shows itself in the very same scene with Steven Ida and Paul. Steven is the only one really fighting for what he believes in at that table and his response to Ida’s questions almost comes off as self righteous and speechy.
Governor Morris’ wants are to become President of the United States. He is actively seeking the seat and every action taken by him in the movie shows this. His need is similar to Steven’s in that he needs to remain uncorrupted and uncompromising to keep his sense of worth.
Paul’s wants are to help Governor Morris become the next president same as Morris and Steven. His needs are different than either though. He is a veteran when it comes to the political game and has been playing for long enough to know all the tricks. He is not uncompromised and not still idealistic. He needs to retire from the game. He looks over stressed and overworked, and in order to not die early from this stress he needs to get out of the game, or as they say “Start a nice consulting firm off k- street.”
Duffy wants Senator Pullman to win the primary and he is willing to do anything in order for him to accomplish this want. Duffy’s need is to stop being so manipulating of others. In the end it is his manipulation of others that causes his candidate to lose the primary.
Molly is harder to read. I think she just wants to be apart of the process, she doesn't seem too excited about whether the candidate wins or loses. Her need is to start thinking things through and not making rash decisions.