Sun Directed by George Stevens

¶ … Sun directed by George Stevens [...] George's character development in the film. A Place in the Sun is the story of George Eastman, a lower class man with high ideals. He wants to be rich and successful, and the film follows his rise and eventual fall from what he aspires to. How much does George change throughout the film? Outwardly, George changes tremendously during the film, because he goes from "rags to riches" and learns how the upper classes live. He becomes one of them. However, inside, George does not change much at all. He is selfish and self-serving, lonely, and determined to better himself throughout the film, and he allows his heart to rule over his head and common sense. In the end, he is still lonely and alone, but wiser, because he does recognize his own part in his destiny.

In the beginning of the film, George is essentially nobody. Standing by the side of the road hitchhiking, no one pays attention to him, least of all the rich socialite who passes him by. He is clearly undereducated and from the working class, and he desperately wants to better himself. He is uncomfortable in social situations and with his rich uncle's family, who sneer at him behind his back. His aunt says, "But what are we going to do about him socially?" (A Place in the Sun). That is the main theme of the film, because George is poor and working class, he can never fit in socially with his "betters." In the beginning, George sees himself only as a plant worker, but aspires to something more. He tells Alice, "That's silly. I'm in the same boat as the rest of you" (A Place in the Sun). He actually has much more in common with the lowly Alice, and might make a decent life with her, but he wants more, and cannot be happy with a factory worker when he might have a chance at a socialite. He hungers for approval from his uncle and his mother, but he does not use his head. First, he gets involved with a woman he is not supposed to be dating, and lets his emotions take control when he sleeps with her. He is lonely and not in love, but he does not use his head, he lets his emotions rule, and it gets him in trouble throughout the film.

As George begins to socialize with the Eastmans, he becomes surer of himself, and when he is promoted this also helps him feel better about himself. He begins to leave Alice and her world behind, but he is not adult enough to tell her. This is another way George does not change throughout the film. He wants to be successful and make a good life for himself, but he is not adult enough to cope with the many changes in his life. He takes up with Alice by chance, even when he knows it is forbidden. He cannot say "no," and in this, he is very childish. His decision to not tell Alice he is in love with Angela is also childish, and his idea to kill Alice to rectify the situation is childish, too. He cannot face up to adult responsibilities, yet he wants everyone to treat him like an adult. It is sad, and it shows that George does not really mature throughout the movie, the only time he really matures is when he has to face his actions after his conviction.

In the final section of the film, George cannot find true happiness because while he loves Angela, he cannot break off with Alice like an adult. He cannot face his responsibilities because he is afraid of the results. He cannot tell Angela the truth about Alice, or Alice the truth about Angela, so he is caught up in lies and deceit. He is not lonely anymore, and it seems like he will be a success at the plant, but his personal life is a mess, because he is so determined to get ahead that he cannot do the right thing. He tells Angela, "It's wonderful when you're here. I can hold you. I can, I can see you. I can hold you next to me. But what's it gonna be like next week? All summer long? I'll still be just as much in love with you. You'll be gone" (A Place in the Sun). All he can see is his own loneliness and lack of success. He is selfish and self-centered, and his obsession with success and the wealthy show his own lack of self-esteem and self-worth. George is a sad character because he is so real, and his emotions are so strong. Throughout the film, his body language shows that he is fearful of his place. He is often awkward and uncomfortable when he is around the wealthy, and he usually arrives dressed wrong, such as wearing a suit when everyone else is wearing tuxedos. He cannot do the right thing in any situation, and this shows when he continually puts off Alice. He strings her along, which makes the situation worse, instead of being honest with her. He is not honest with anyone, not even himself, and this is why he is destined to fail.

In the end, George does not really change throughout the film. He runs away from his responsibilities, and he ends up lonely and alone until his execution. He does finally take responsibility for his own actions before he dies, so he does change, but it does not come until the final moments of the film. If George had been wiser, and able to learn from his mistakes throughout the film, he might have been more successful. However, that is part of the point of the film. George is who he is, and as much as he wants to be someone different, he is a product of his own family and their values, whether he likes it or not. He is not wise, he lets his emotions dictate his life, and this leads to his downfall. He is a tragic figure not because he dies, but because his life did not have to be such a waste.