"Far and Away" Analysis

The dream to live a life of one’s own and not a life pre-scripted by others consumes Joseph Donnelly (played by Tom Cruise) and Shannon Christie (played by Nicole Kidman) in the movie Far and Away. In the case of Donnelly, he dreams of working a land of his own whereas Shannon desires to escape her predictable and slow-moving aristocratic pleasantries. But even though they share similar passions to emigrate to America they both face a few individual challenges when the blue-collar and indiscreet Modern America hits them in the face.

From the onset, the viewer realizes Donnelly’s dreamy personality. For instance, before his father breathes his last breath, and upon his father advising him to renounce his immature dreams, Joseph holds fast to his dreams by foretelling to his father that someday he will work his own land. More to the point, one even sees that not being able to work his own land infuriates Donnelly. First of all, he sets out to murder his landowner, Mr. Daniel Christie, who had raised rent money on Donnelly’s land, and who was the figurehead behind Stephen Chase, Christie’s first-in-command, in burning down Donnelly’s home due to overdue rents. And secondly, in a fit of rage, Donnelly knocks Chase onto the ground, steps on his throat, and proclaims in unwavering fashion that he wants his land. Thus, Donnelly’s dream to work his own land influenced his desire to leave Ireland for a freer America.

At this point one might argue that Donnelly didn’t initially flee with Shannon to America because of his disbelief in her claim about the Oklahoma land rush. But considering Donnelly’s determination to achieve his dream—his willingness to kill, to assault—it seems unlikely that his dream didn’t influence him riding off with Shannon instead of, most likely, dying in his duel with Stephen Chase.

Like Donnelly, Shannon Christie’s deep desire to live her own life influences her decision to run away to America. Her dislike for her life in Ireland unfolds with her visual obsession with what she considers different and exciting. For instance, because of her duty as a young lady to maintain her virginity, she cannot stop staring at Donnelly’s naked wounded body. Nonetheless, The best example of the former occurs when she is playing classical music for her mother’s friends and suddenly breaks into a faster and louder modern tune. And even though Shannon notices the stunned faces, especially her mother’s bewildered look, she doesn’t stop. Instead, she continues playing, thus expressing her fearlessness and wish to be different, to act modern. The latter is especially true when she declares happily to her audience that her new style of music is modern music from America. Clearly, Shannon’s wish for a different and more exciting life she emigrates to America with Joseph Donnelly.

But once Donnelly and Shannon reach America they both face a few individual challenges offered to them. For Shannon, for example, after her silver spoons are stolen, she finds difficulty adjusting to a lower status lifestyle—the same blue-collar lifestyle that Joseph Donnelly represents. For instance, she cringes after realizing that her and Donnelly must live in a small room with only one bed. Donnelly, on the other hand, is unbothered by the matter. In fact, while Shannon pouts on her bed when they are getting ready for bed, Donnelly comments that he enjoys America thus far.

Shannon’s dislike for America is shown clearly when her internal struggle with her class change convinces her to become a dancer at Mike Kelly’s place in order to prove to Donnelly that she can make as much money as him. More to the point, Shannon’s internal struggle with her lower societal status reaches a climax when Donnelly tosses her into a bathtub and asks her why she cannot compliment him for his recent economic success. In a way, Donnelly is asking Shannon why she cannot accept the possibility that a lower status man like himself can be as successful, or in this case more successful, than her.

On the other hand, Donnelly doesn’t struggle internally with his lower status, but rather struggles to accept that his new acquaintances do not respect him, but rather are using his fighting skills to make more money for themselves. For instance, when Shannon tells Donnelly that Mike Kelly and every other person for whom has acquainted themselves with him because of his success as a fighter, do not respect him, but rather are using him in order to capitalize off his success, he shrugs his shoulders and offers a smile. From his reaction, the viewer interprets that Donnelly agrees with Shannon’s opinion but doesn’t want to accept her theory. Thus, Donnelly struggles with his hope that the average person likes him for who he truly is—an Irishman named Joseph Donnelly.

Shannon’s internal struggle to accept a lower status lifestyle and Donnelly’s struggle to see clearly who respects him and who doesn’t, clearly illustrate a few of their many individual challenges in modern America before they both reach the Oklahoma land rush in the end; the moment where Donnelly achieves his dream to work his own land, and where Shannon can begin a new modern life.


Questions:

1. I’ve seen this movie a few times now and I still would’ve liked to see Joseph’s inability to read to be highlighted more as a struggle for him in America. How do you think his inability to read (possibly write too, even though that remains unclear in the film) could’ve impacted him in America?

2. Did you find it interesting that Joseph started the movie as Shannon’s companion but as the movie progressed Shannon, especially after Mike Kelly banishes them, becomes his companion? Why or why not?