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Was George Bailey really a good guy?
Posted on 12/13/24 at 9:42 pm
Posted on 12/13/24 at 9:42 pm
I can’t help but to think George is overrated as an example of a great man. It seems like he’s always held in high regards as a man. But, He’s a straight up dick to everyone. Here’s my list of grievances:
- He is mean to Mary. When she’s in the bushes naked, he wants to play games and not give her back her robe. Sure he’s flirting and having fun, it he’s not being a gentleman.
- When he goes to Mary’s house, he’s awfully rude to her and makes her cry.
- He is rude to Annie.
- He abuses his friendship Sam Wainwright, mocking him with the “hee-ha”, going behind his back to court Mary, and he blows Sam off when Sam offers to let him in on the business.
- He is a dick to Potter, always calling him names and talking bad about him (deserved or not).
- He bitches out the teacher over the telephone.
- Again, when he has his meltdown, he makes Mary cry and yells at his kids.
- He drives drunk, crashes into someone’s tree and then is a dick to the owner of the house, blowing him off and storming away.
- Finally, it takes an angel to show him that his life is worth living.
I understand you must see George’s torment and suffering to have the great redemption, and the movie does a great job showing this. But, George is reveled as a great man. I say he’s not. Sure, he sacrifices his dreams to stay at the building and loan and help the town, but why is he always an a-hole?
A good man helping the town stay together, yes. An example of a great man, I’m not so sure. I feel like the movie shows George as an imperfect person and shows his struggles, but society paints him as an example of a great American man.
Or….does society accept him as a great example of a man because he’s imperfect and struggles like everyone else?
Regardless, the movie and the character of George Bailey are fantastic.
- He is mean to Mary. When she’s in the bushes naked, he wants to play games and not give her back her robe. Sure he’s flirting and having fun, it he’s not being a gentleman.
- When he goes to Mary’s house, he’s awfully rude to her and makes her cry.
- He is rude to Annie.
- He abuses his friendship Sam Wainwright, mocking him with the “hee-ha”, going behind his back to court Mary, and he blows Sam off when Sam offers to let him in on the business.
- He is a dick to Potter, always calling him names and talking bad about him (deserved or not).
- He bitches out the teacher over the telephone.
- Again, when he has his meltdown, he makes Mary cry and yells at his kids.
- He drives drunk, crashes into someone’s tree and then is a dick to the owner of the house, blowing him off and storming away.
- Finally, it takes an angel to show him that his life is worth living.
I understand you must see George’s torment and suffering to have the great redemption, and the movie does a great job showing this. But, George is reveled as a great man. I say he’s not. Sure, he sacrifices his dreams to stay at the building and loan and help the town, but why is he always an a-hole?
A good man helping the town stay together, yes. An example of a great man, I’m not so sure. I feel like the movie shows George as an imperfect person and shows his struggles, but society paints him as an example of a great American man.
Or….does society accept him as a great example of a man because he’s imperfect and struggles like everyone else?
Regardless, the movie and the character of George Bailey are fantastic.
10
Posted on 12/13/24 at 9:46 pm to 3BlockUber
YOu call tHiS a happy faMilY? Why dO we have tO haVE alL theSe kiDs?
Posted on 12/13/24 at 9:48 pm to 3BlockUber
Interesting musings. Fantastic movie
Posted on 12/13/24 at 9:52 pm to 3BlockUber
Well, this is a well debated topic. I think your last few paragraphs really explain it. Here’s a guy who’s shelved his personal dreams for Mary. He’s held this bank together and he’s got this male provider burden on him the whole time. He isn’t perfect but he still holds it together until he doesn’t.
Perhaps he’s more admired as a character than he should be (more than likely because of the actor), but he really embodies the male family man ideal of the era.
Perhaps he’s more admired as a character than he should be (more than likely because of the actor), but he really embodies the male family man ideal of the era.
Posted on 12/13/24 at 10:50 pm to alajones
quote:
Here’s a guy who’s shelved his personal dreams for Mary
He's a good guy who is just frustrated he didn't get to live the life he planned but finds out when you make a plan, God laughs....
.....and his redemption or recognition as him being "a good guy" is when the whole town comes out to save him.
"No man is a failure when he has friends."
Posted on 12/13/24 at 11:36 pm to 3BlockUber
Let’s not forget, he’s not having a meltdown because of the life he lived. He’s having a meltdown because his loser uncle Billy is about to land George in prison.
Posted on 12/13/24 at 11:55 pm to Gavin Elster
Uncle Billy had to go and eff with Potter and left the money in the newspaper... George gave it to him and dumbass Billy deserved it....
Posted on 12/14/24 at 1:16 am to 3BlockUber
The lost ending really clears it up….
Posted on 12/14/24 at 5:31 am to 3BlockUber
Aren’t we all dickheads at various points in our lives?
Give the man a break. He sacrificed his dreams only to watch his lil brother and friend/rival live the worldly adventures he wanted, while he was stuck looking over his dumb family.
He did get a fine arse wife though. But he still had to be a jerk from time to time to keep her grounded. You know how they can get when you give them moon.
Give the man a break. He sacrificed his dreams only to watch his lil brother and friend/rival live the worldly adventures he wanted, while he was stuck looking over his dumb family.
He did get a fine arse wife though. But he still had to be a jerk from time to time to keep her grounded. You know how they can get when you give them moon.
This post was edited on 12/14/24 at 5:32 am
Posted on 12/14/24 at 5:41 am to 3BlockUber
quote:
Was George Bailey really a good guy?
Yes. He was a great man, plainly.
The examples that you gave don”t speak to his character. Indeed, the entire first half of the movie is spent showing examples time and time again of him being a good man. From the when he was a kid through the second war.
Also:
Posted on 12/14/24 at 8:21 am to 3BlockUber
quote:
A good man helping the town stay together, yes. An example of a great man, I’m not so sure.
It depends on your definition of great. He saved multiple lives. He gave up the life he wanted to have to save his family and the town. Sounds like a great guy with imperfections to me.
Posted on 12/14/24 at 8:28 am to Porter Osborne Jr
quote:
Sounds like a great guy with imperfections to me.
Exactly this.
No one is perfect. George Bailey was obviously resentful about not being able to live the life he wanted, but he took what life threw at him and rolled with it. Even the best of human beings are selfish and want what's best for them. However, what makes them truly great is when they abandon what they want for themselves (even if it is reluctantly) in lieu of helping others.
That's what George did for Bedford Falls. He may have not wanted to do any of the things he did, but the important thing is he did them and made the town better for it.
Posted on 12/14/24 at 8:32 am to 3BlockUber
Posted on 12/14/24 at 10:24 am to 3BlockUber
Yes.
He was flawed and had his moments of weakness, as all good men do.
But, he overcame.
He was flawed and had his moments of weakness, as all good men do.
But, he overcame.
Posted on 12/14/24 at 1:18 pm to bah humbug
quote:
He did get a fine arse wife though. But he still had to be a jerk from time to time to keep her grounded. You know how they can get when you give them moon.
True dat. Sometimes ya gotta put a bitch in her place.
Merry Christmas!
This post was edited on 12/14/24 at 1:19 pm
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