preview

The Iron Giant : Proving America Wrong

Decent Essays

The Iron Giant: Proving America Wrong
Although the Iron Giant is a huge metal beast, he still has feelings. He is the same as the average human on the inside, yet he looks very different on the outside. America does not like different. America likes familiarity. In the film The Iron Giant, the Iron Giant experiences the hardships a foreigner must face before gaining acceptance in America.
The Iron Giant overcomes the judgements made based on his appearance by showing that he is a normal person on the inside. Every person who encounters the Iron Giant initially fears him. These people do not fear him based off of his actions, but they fear him based off of his looks. Due to the stereotypical judgements that Americans make, the Iron Giant must prove his normalcy through action. This is a problem that foreigners face every day in America. They come to our country with no harmful intentions, and then they are treated as criminals until they prove themselves otherwise. Even Hogarth fears the Iron Giant at first sight, but he still saves the foreigner’s life despite his fears. Hogarth’s fear of the Iron Giant does not go away until he sits down next to him in the woods and sees his innocence. Finally given his chance, he proves to Hogarth that he means no harm. The director includes this scene to show that all foreigners deserve a chance, no matter their physical appearance. Hogarth stays by the Iron Giant’s side throughout the whole film, as he understands that everyone else who

Get Access