I saw multiple literary conflicts in Derek Vineyard’s life. I believe that his main conflict was Man vs Self. Even though Derek’s father’s strongly voiced his views about how he felt about society, Derek was old enough to know what was right and what was wrong. It is clear in the movie that he shared those same views, but does that justify Derek acting violently and forming a hate group? I am sure that there are still people in this world who are prejudice against other races, but not everyone acts on them. We have to also consider in the film that Derek never got over his father’s death. I do not believe that he grieved his father in the proper way. He let his emotions overcome him and instead of seeking some type of treatment he lashed out in a negative way which resulted in him committing murder.
Danny Vineyard looked up to his brother and valued his opinion leading him to have his brother’s racial beliefs about society. In the scene where Derek was discussing his assignment with his father, Danny was paying close attention. It seemed like Derek was favored because he was an “A” student. Maybe Danny wasn’t an “A” student and was scolded in some way that he should be more like his brother.
The symbols Danny wore on a daily basis represented his gang which did not sit well with his community and schoolmates. There was constant conflict between Danny and the black people in his school and neighborhood. Everyone knew that his brother was a leader of a gang whose purpose was to cause harm to anyone they thought was below them.
Anger is one theme presented in American History X. Derek was clearly angry that his father was killed while doing his duty as a firefighter. His father was shot by drug dealers who were black. Revenge is another theme in this film. Because of his father’s death, Derek seeks harm to everyone that he felt deserved it.
The prison society and the home society both had gangs. When Derek joined up with the gang that shared his beliefs while in prison there was that since of belonging and protection. There were also places that the gangs stood in the prison yards and at home there were places in the community that certain people were known to have territory.
Derek’s mother and sister, Doris and Davina, represented sexism. They were not supposed to have an opinions about the racial tension that the men in the family felt. The women were supposed to stand by the men in the family by way of obeying and agreeing with their views.
I believe that ten years after the death of Derek’s brother Danny, Derek is a high school teacher. I believe that the principle that he had in high school had an influence over him when he was in prison. Doctor Sweeny asked Derek while he was incarcerated “Has anything you done made your life better?” Derek comes to the conclusion that everything that he done did not amount to anything but more hate and grief. Feeling guilty over being the cause of his brother’s death he felt that it was his duty to try and save other teenagers from making the wrong choices in life. He may have also teamed up with the police department to try to help teens who wanted out of the gang life.
Danny Vineyard looked up to his brother and valued his opinion leading him to have his brother’s racial beliefs about society. In the scene where Derek was discussing his assignment with his father, Danny was paying close attention. It seemed like Derek was favored because he was an “A” student. Maybe Danny wasn’t an “A” student and was scolded in some way that he should be more like his brother.
The symbols Danny wore on a daily basis represented his gang which did not sit well with his community and schoolmates. There was constant conflict between Danny and the black people in his school and neighborhood. Everyone knew that his brother was a leader of a gang whose purpose was to cause harm to anyone they thought was below them.
Anger is one theme presented in American History X. Derek was clearly angry that his father was killed while doing his duty as a firefighter. His father was shot by drug dealers who were black. Revenge is another theme in this film. Because of his father’s death, Derek seeks harm to everyone that he felt deserved it.
The prison society and the home society both had gangs. When Derek joined up with the gang that shared his beliefs while in prison there was that since of belonging and protection. There were also places that the gangs stood in the prison yards and at home there were places in the community that certain people were known to have territory.
Derek’s mother and sister, Doris and Davina, represented sexism. They were not supposed to have an opinions about the racial tension that the men in the family felt. The women were supposed to stand by the men in the family by way of obeying and agreeing with their views.
I believe that ten years after the death of Derek’s brother Danny, Derek is a high school teacher. I believe that the principle that he had in high school had an influence over him when he was in prison. Doctor Sweeny asked Derek while he was incarcerated “Has anything you done made your life better?” Derek comes to the conclusion that everything that he done did not amount to anything but more hate and grief. Feeling guilty over being the cause of his brother’s death he felt that it was his duty to try and save other teenagers from making the wrong choices in life. He may have also teamed up with the police department to try to help teens who wanted out of the gang life.