After The First is a parable - a story that has a moral or teaches a lesson. To figure out the moral of the film, first ask yourself what lesson Steve's father and mother wanted him to learn? Second, what do you think Steve actually learned? Then discuss what the film taught you.
34 comments:
Steven's father wanted his son to follow in the footsteps of a family tradition, hunting. He wanted him to learn the lessons that he was taught as a kid, “it’s just the food chain”. His mother did not want him to go on the trip because she thought that he was too young. Steven was excited for the hunting trip with his father. We see his excitement in the beginning of the movie; where he starts to play in the bathroom with his gun. Once he got out there with his father; he felt that first kick of the gun when he shot the branch. Steven was on a natural high. Once he saw his father shoot another living animal, you could see the shock on his face. Steven had to face an internal conflict about whether or he should shoot the rabbit. Not wanting to disappoint his father; Steven shot the rabbit and immediately regretted. Steven did what he was told to do, he felt like he needed to please his father by shooting that rabbit. I think Steven learned how things don't always turn out the way they may seem to be. I learned that you shouldn’t have to do everything you are told to do; only things that you want to do, and feel comfortable doing.
I agree completely with what Natielli had to say. Steve’s parents had a minor argument about whether Steve was ready to hunt; a family tradition. Steve’s father said he first went hunting at the age of nine and that Steve is definitely old enough to hunt at age 12. Steve’s mother disagrees and believes Steve is not emotionally ready, which in the end turns out to be true. For Steve’s father, the whole purpose of the hunting trip was for Steve to become a man. When Steve first shot the branch, he experienced power and control for the first time. He loved being in control and the feeling of power until he witnessed his father abusing that power by killing the bunny. Though he feels it’s against his morals, Steve shoots the bunny to make his father proud and to show that he’s a man. The film has taught me that you should never do something that goes against what you believe in to please someone else.
From the beginning it was a matter of whether or not it was time to continue a family tradition. This was the basis of Steve's parents argument. His father was looking forward to passing down the skill and tradition of hunting while also respecting firearms. His mother was looking for more respect- for guns, for animals- and for waiting around a little while longer before Steve learned how to shoot a gun. Steve actually learned a combination of the two. He learned of a greater respect and of the importance animals are, not only as a food source, but just as of an importance to essential life on Earth. He also learned of the continuous tradition of hunting and what it means to his dad and family. To sum it up, I learned basically what Steve learned, minus the actual firing of a gun.
I like what Natielli pointed out in saying that things don't always turn out the way they may seem to be. I think I can agree to that and am curious to see what others may think regarding that and a couple other points from her comment.
Though Steven did become uncomfortable after shooting the bunny, I think that Steven's father accomplished what he set out to do by taking his son hunting. At the end of the movie Steven seemed to have a realization about the realities of life and death. He seemed to mature and understand a little more after he shot the bunny. As sadistic as it sounds, I believe that the hunting trip did succeed in helping Steve enter manhood, just not in the way that Steven's father imagined.
I agree bery much with Natielli has to say about Steven having to face an internal conflict.
Steve's father wanted to expose Steve to the outside world, one with violence and things Steve wouldn't normally be accustomed to. From the looks of it, his mother thought that Steve was too young to be exposed to this kind of violence, and didn't want Steve to leave on a hunting trip at first. As for Steve himself, I believe he learned a valuable lesson on the circle of life and that things like guns may seem all fun and games at first but don't show their full power until used to their true potential. Steve also had some of his child-like innocence taken away by the hunting trip. As for myself, I have never gone hunting and the film to me was a bit alarming. I expected the outcome but I am glad I wasn't a part of it. It taught me you can't always do what you want if you want to see the world for what it truly is.
I agree with what was said by everyone before. I think that Steve learned the importance or gun safety and how not to abuse power. he also learned more about the importance of the cycle of life. he leaned about how the outside world works and how life in general works. Steve kinda learned the hard way that you shouldn't always do what everyone else tells you to do if its not what you believe in.
I think that Steve's father did a good job of taking him hunting and showing him the realities of guns and how to survive if ever placed in a position where he has to kill animals to survive. Even though Steve's mother didn't think he was emotionalley ready, which was true; I still think that it was necessary to take him hunting so he could learn how to survive and be exposed to some more violent things. It will help him out in the long run.
Steve’s parents were discussing whether he was ready to start hunting with his father. Steve was extremely excited but he didn’t listen to his mother when she said she felt he was too young at 12. His parents wanted him to learn if he wanted to carry out the family tradition and if he was ready for the power he would possess while holding that gun. I think Steve learned that although he enjoyed the rush of shooting the gun and trying to impress his dad, he didn’t like the idea that he was capable of killing anything, and you could see the pain and hesitation on Steve’s face as he contemplated shooting the rabbit. This film taught me to not form opinions about something unless I know what it is that I’m dealing with and I learned not to do something I don’t want to do even if I’m under pressure.
I think that Steve's father believed that he was doing the best for his son. He honestly believed that it would be a way to carry on the family tradition and transition Steve to adulthood. As the film progresses we can see how affected Steve is by what he is exposed to. He goes from just playful and excited to scared and pressured to do what his father asks of him even though he doesn't want to. The film showed how people are forced to make the decision between sticking to what they believe in or simply doing what they are told to avoid conflict.
I think that Steve's father believed that he was doing the best for his son. He honestly believed that it would be a way to carry on the family tradition and transition Steve to adulthood. As the film progresses we can see how affected Steve is by what he is exposed to. He goes from just playful and excited to scared and pressured to do what his father asks of him even though he doesn't want to. The film showed how people are forced to make the decision between sticking to what they believe in or simply doing what they are told to avoid conflict.
I agree with Jack that Steve's father wanted to expose him to the real world and i feel as though Steve wasn't ready. He didn't understand what he was capable of while holding the gun and lost some of his innocence, just like his mother had predicted would happen.
I agree with Natielli, Steven was forced to face the decision of wether or not to shoot the rabbit. He decided to shoot the rabbit simply to please his father, Which he deeply regrets. If he did not have the pressure coming from his father he most likely would not have even considered to shoot the rabbit because it wasn't something he believed in.
Steve's father believed that shooting a gun would teach Steve to be a man, and Steve believed that shooting the gun would allow him to connect with his father. Steve's mother worried that Steve would be harmed while on the trip. I agree with Natielli in that Steve's dad wanted him to follow in family tradition.
I think Steve’s father wanted him to learn how to how to hunt and it would show him a passage to manhood. I don’t think his mother was ready for him to learn how to hunt. I don’t think she thought that he was ready for that. I think Steve learned that hunting is not just all fun and games. He had to see real life die, and I think it affected him in a much different way than he thought it would. He shot a live animal himself and it felt much more different than he thought. It showed me that things are not always how they seem. Or that things turn out a lot different than we want them to.
I agree with Nick in that Steve entered manhood but not in the way that he was expecting to. He is now going to see realities much different than he did before.
Steve's father and mother had somewhat of a disagreement over whether or not Steve should go hunting. His father didn't mind him going hunting because he himself did it at such a young age, but his mother was apprehensive about it. The first time that Steve fired the gun, he felt powerful and he was excited to be learning how to shoot for the first time. After his father shot the rabbit he felt uncomfortable, especially when his father made him do it. The only reason he shot the rabbit was because he felt pressured by his dad and he did not want to disappoint him. The lesson I think that was being conveyed is don't be peer pressured into doing something that you don't want to do, especially if it goes against what you believe in.
I agree with Ashley and Nick. I think that Steve enters man hood by discovering that violence is not somthing that he wants to be associated with.
To be honest, I disagree with everyone before me; I found a vastly different and much more pessimistic moral to this video as compared to my classmates. Yes,his parents wanted to pass down a tradition. His father wanted to enjoy some quality father-son time and pass on his hobby to someone who could appreciate it with him. His mother, who clearly is not averted to hunting itself, being married to a hunter and veteran, simply did not approve of Steve's introduction to the sport at such a young age: hunting is a mature and violent pasttime and can have dangerous psychological effects on a youth. However, although excited to partake, Steve learned of his father's brutality and neglect of nature. He had not previously understood the concept of killing, and with his first kill and father's excitement, he remember his father's previous statement that he may have killed human beings when at war. His father's closing remark, "It get's easier after the first time" struck me as chilling, suggesting that even violent, unwanted, and disturbing habits can be taught to and perfected by youth. Steve simply killed because he was told to. When violence becomes a habit in the youth as taught by adults, groups like the Nazis can control a nation. But this is not just a concept of the past. African nations today destroy young children by converting them into child soldiers before they understand what they have become.
I agree with Owen that Steve enters manhood when he discovers the evils of the world such as violence.
I think steven father had wanted hum to learn the family tradition of hunting and wanted him to enjoy it although Stevens mother had totally disagreed upon and felt that he was to young to go hunting especially for the fact that he he to kill at that age. In the end steven ended up learning that the hunting he had always dreamed of wasn't actually what he hoped for as soon as he had killed the rabbit and he left the Forrest with dismay
I totally agree with natielli and her thoughts about the movie
Hey everyone! Mankah, I agree with you on some aspects of your post. I think that Steven was initially excited about hunting, but upon facing the realities of death found it to be horrifying and even immoral. The scene of him actually shooting the bunny was disturbing to me because of the cinematography-how it captured his internal disgust and horror in what he did, juxtaposed with his father's praise and congratulations. His initial optimistic view of the world was soon shattered by the some of the realities of this world-violence, killing, death.
I think Steve's Father and Mother wanted him to learn responsibility and what it feels like to be in charge. Steve's father was convinced he was ready and wanted to teach him these lessons through their family tradition of hunting. Steve's Mother was a little skeptical but trusted them. I think Steve learned even more than his father was expecting because he learned to appreciate and recognize the lives of others around him (the animals) and he knew it didn't feel right to take the rabbits lives. I think Steve did learn responsibility and what it feels like to be in charge because he felt responsible for the death of the rabbit and he was the one in power. I think Steve learned what his parents wanted him to learn but in a different way than his father was expecting. The film showed me how aggression and de-sensitivity can be fostered at a young age.
I agree with what Melissa said about the pressure he felt from his dad to fire the gun. When i was watching the movie i put myself in that situation with my dad and i honestly think i would have done the same thing because i wouldnt want to disappoint someone who is so close to me
I think that Steven's father wanted Steven to learn how it felt to kill an animal on his own, and to proud of himself for doing it. Steven's mother on the other hand was less optimistic about the trip and felt by staying out of it hopefully Steven would figure out through his own experience how he feels about violence towards another creature. At the beginning of the trip Steven was very excited but after he realized how he felt about killing the bunny, he realized that hunting was not an activity he could participate in. I completely agree with what Nick said. I think that Steve learned a combination of respect for animals along with how to shoot a gun.
I think that Steve's father didn't really realize the harm that killing something could have on his very young son and didn't see his son's apprehension upon killing the first rabbit. I agree with Nick in that now Steve is going to have a much greater sense of reality in life than he did before.
I think agree with Natielli that Steven's farther wanted his son to follow in the footstep of a family tradition. I think his farther wanted to bond with him too.
I agree with Natielli. Steve was only excited to go hunting with his father because all he knew about it was how great his father made it seem. When he first experienced shooting a gun and killing an animal for himself, he realized he didn't like it, and it was not something he wanted anything to do with.
I agree with Owen, in through his actions he discovered manhood through violence, and realizing, even though he wants to be like his father that he does not enjoy the violence.
well i really don't care what the father and mother was trying to teach Steven. i do like the movie because it shows how the war affects people and how it is easy to kill after the first kill.
I agree with Luke. Steve was very excited to go hunting for the first time with his father and he was enjoying his time up until he saw his father kill the rabbit. When the next rabbit came around, the pressure from his dad was too much so Steve shot and killed it. As soon as that happened, reality hit Steve and the fact that killing was not for him.
i was absent for this class
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