Introduction
The Laramie Project is a pseudo-documentary film that tells the story of the city of Laramie from the inside of its inhabitants. The most memorable monologue from the film for me was the story told by bartender Jedadiah Schultz. This monologue is significant because it shows the complex relationships of residents with each other within the city (LaramieProjectMovie, 2012).
Analyzing a Powerful Monologue from the Film
Jedadiah tells about one of the city’s inhabitants – Matthew Shepard, who died because of the beatings. The character talks about Shepard as a decent, cultured young man looking for someone to get home (LaramieProjectMovie, 2012). The bartender explained that he could not give Matthew a ride because he had to close the bar.
This little communication helps the storyteller humanize the victim and show that he is an ordinary person who lives in his own business. After that, the story takes a tragic turn when Jedadiah talks about the aftermath of Matthew’s murder. The media began to portray the city as a hotbed of hatred and bigotry that the interviewee said he never associated with Laramie (LaramieProjectMovie, 2012).
Jedadiah tells how the city mourned Matthew and did not accept what happened. Many people were saddened and dismayed by what happened, which is why the grim portrayal of Laramie saddens Mr. Schultz. It shows how, even in the face of tragedy, some people remain fair and can put aside their ideals.
Conclusion
This monologue stands out to me because it shows that many people can reject hatred and fanaticism because of the tragedy that has happened. The meaning of the monologue is the most significant for a work of art since it shows the complexity of society’s reactions to the murder that has occurred. Most people condemn and do not support what happened, which portrays Laramie as a city of hatred and prejudice.
Reference
LaramieProjectMovie (2012). The Laramie Project. [Video]. YouTube. Web.