Symbolism In Walt Kowalski's Gran Torino
Gran Torino
The concept of kenosis states that Jesus gave up some of his divine attributes while here on earth. The reason this was done by Christ was so that he could function as a real man in order to complete his mission. Jesus humility moved him to leave a more divine and majestic state and become enriched in human nature. This concept of kenosis can be easily applied to the main final scene in Gran Torino in which Walt Kowalski empties himself up for justice in order to better the lives of his Asian neighbors. After an attack on the Vietnamese next door to him by a bunch of no good gang bangers, Walt is fed up and ready for justice. He goes at night to the house where Tao’s cousin and his gang friends live. The scene starts as Walt …show more content…
The Gran Torino is a relic and a symbol of the past, of pride, of a job done right, and of his ideas that he hopes to pass on to future generations. The Gran Torino symbolizes a time when life used to make more sense, where people like him used to live and where old school ideals and lifestyles were prevalent. He now lives in a neighborhood riddled with gang activity and folks unlike himself (Hmong). In a world polluted with misguided thoughts and actions, the Gran Torino stands strong. This shows that although he now lives in the world where he does, his old school ideals and beliefs remain. The pride that Walt has in his Gran Torino is so truly apparent in this film. We see his immense pride in a job done right, one of Walt’s defining characteristics. But the Gran Torino is most importantly a symbol of the ethics and beliefs that Walt holds dear that he wants to be passed on to future generations. His old school beliefs coupled with his immense amount of pride and sense of justice are what the Gran Torino embodies. He wants these ideals to be passed on to future generations in a world where such ideals are hard to find. This is truly seen in Walt mentoring Tao and allowing him to work on and also use the Torino. We see the embodiment of this symbol when at the end of the movie, the Gran Torino is left to Tao in his will,
The concept of kenosis states that Jesus gave up some of his divine attributes while here on earth. The reason this was done by Christ was so that he could function as a real man in order to complete his mission. Jesus humility moved him to leave a more divine and majestic state and become enriched in human nature. This concept of kenosis can be easily applied to the main final scene in Gran Torino in which Walt Kowalski empties himself up for justice in order to better the lives of his Asian neighbors. After an attack on the Vietnamese next door to him by a bunch of no good gang bangers, Walt is fed up and ready for justice. He goes at night to the house where Tao’s cousin and his gang friends live. The scene starts as Walt …show more content…
The Gran Torino is a relic and a symbol of the past, of pride, of a job done right, and of his ideas that he hopes to pass on to future generations. The Gran Torino symbolizes a time when life used to make more sense, where people like him used to live and where old school ideals and lifestyles were prevalent. He now lives in a neighborhood riddled with gang activity and folks unlike himself (Hmong). In a world polluted with misguided thoughts and actions, the Gran Torino stands strong. This shows that although he now lives in the world where he does, his old school ideals and beliefs remain. The pride that Walt has in his Gran Torino is so truly apparent in this film. We see his immense pride in a job done right, one of Walt’s defining characteristics. But the Gran Torino is most importantly a symbol of the ethics and beliefs that Walt holds dear that he wants to be passed on to future generations. His old school beliefs coupled with his immense amount of pride and sense of justice are what the Gran Torino embodies. He wants these ideals to be passed on to future generations in a world where such ideals are hard to find. This is truly seen in Walt mentoring Tao and allowing him to work on and also use the Torino. We see the embodiment of this symbol when at the end of the movie, the Gran Torino is left to Tao in his will,