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Michael Apted 's Treatment Of Amazing Grace

Decent Essays

Simona Shuman

In Michael Apted’s treatment of Amazing Grace, he focuses on a young abolitionist in a pro-slavery society. In the thesis, Apted and I examine how, “tɦʀօʊɢɦ tɦɛ քօաɛʀɖʊʟ ʍɛssaɢɛ օʄ tɦɛ ɦʏʍռ Aʍaʐɨռɢ Gʀaċɛ,William Wilberforce strives to stand up for what he believes is morally right when escaping from political pressures, even if it means being humiliated.” Throughout the film three types of history occurred: political, economic, and military. The conclusion of the paper will be a restatement of the main ideas, and my personal opinion on the film.
In the beginning of the movie, Michael Apted introduces William Wilberforce as a young abolitionist. William lives in a society that is racist and prejudice to anyone not of their skin color. Great Britain in the late 1700’s, was a society dominated by the upper class who opposed changes in their way of life. To achieve this they lived a glamorous life, looking down on those below them in the social order. At first William does not outright show his feeling about slavery but subtly shows it by being a worker of God. To him a worker of God was one who made decisions and based their actions upon what they believed God wanted. In the beginning of the film, As a game of poker occurs with other members of Parliament in a bar, William plays against the Duke of Clarence a strong believer in slavery. The duke gambles off his young black coach driver, and Wilberforce slams down his cards in anger and storms off. Although he

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