Rudy
I mentioned stories based on true events in a previous post, and in others I've discussed the idea of mind, body, and spirit working to develop a fourth character. In 'Rudy,' the 1993 motion picture depicting of the life of Rudy Ruettiger (played by Sean Astin), these two concepts come together.
The main character, Rudy Ruettiger, grows steadily throughout the film, but he must rely on the help of others to reach his goal of playing football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
As before, the comments here are based on the film and not necessarily on actual events.
As I may have said before, spirit characters are often members of the clergy or characters who have deep religious beliefs. Father Cavanaugh gives Rudy hope when he's lost everything. His best friend is dead and his family ridicules him for his dreams. Rudy needs someone to help him once again believe he can achieve those dreams.
Father Cavanaugh helps Rudy get into Holy Cross College, for one semester, giving him the opportunity to raise his grades. He opens the door, but Rudy must be the one to earn the next semester. That open door was the light of hope Rudy needed at that time.
When Rudy reaches the end of his career at Holy Cross, he once again loses hope. If he is not accepted to Notre Dame this time, his dreams will die. He goes to Father Cavanaugh and asks if he's done everything he needed to do. Rudy wants to know if there's anything else he needs to accomplish or should have done. Father Cavanaugh suggests he pray, signalling to Rudy that he has done everything possible. Now he must wait on the actions of others
Throughout Rudy's years at Holy Cross, Cavanaugh is a continual source for hope, but hope alone will not be sufficient. If he wants to make it to Notre Dame, he must improve his grades.
D-Bob is a teaching assistant in a class Rudy is taking at Holy Cross. He sees Rudy's efforts to pass the class and tries to tell him he need not take so many notes. Rudy then expresses his desires to improve his grades and make it into Notre Dame. Ultimately, D-Bob agrees to tutor Rudy.
There is a line in the film that would go unnoticed to most people, but is significant in defining D-Bob as the mind character. Rudy is talking about how his grades have improved and mentions that D-Bob did some testing and discovered Rudy was dyslexic. Not only did D-Bob help with his grades, he recognized a problem and worked to solve it.
Ultimately, Rudy makes the grade, but he still needs help to achieve his dreams.
When Rudy gets to Holy Cross, he has no place to stay and no money. He says he spent all his savings on tuition. He checks bulletin boards for rooms to rent, but never gets one. Rudy wants to be a part of Notre Dame, but can't because he is not a student. He offers to help Fortune, the groundskeeper at Notre Dame Stadium, even if it means working for free. Fortune gives Rudy a minimum wage job, which provides food for Rudy, but not a place to stay. When Fortune figures out Rudy is breaking into the grounds locker room at night, he leaves a blanket and a key so Rudy can have a permanent place to sleep.
Fortune takes care of Rudy's basic needs, but he also helps Rudy deal with some selfish pride toward the end of his football career at Notre Dame.
In addition to Fortune, the Notre Dame football team plays the role of a body character. If you've seen the movie, you should be able to figure that on out on your own.
The main character, Rudy Ruettiger, grows steadily throughout the film, but he must rely on the help of others to reach his goal of playing football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
As before, the comments here are based on the film and not necessarily on actual events.
The Spirit Character: Father Cavanaugh (Robert Prosky)
As I may have said before, spirit characters are often members of the clergy or characters who have deep religious beliefs. Father Cavanaugh gives Rudy hope when he's lost everything. His best friend is dead and his family ridicules him for his dreams. Rudy needs someone to help him once again believe he can achieve those dreams.
Father Cavanaugh helps Rudy get into Holy Cross College, for one semester, giving him the opportunity to raise his grades. He opens the door, but Rudy must be the one to earn the next semester. That open door was the light of hope Rudy needed at that time.
When Rudy reaches the end of his career at Holy Cross, he once again loses hope. If he is not accepted to Notre Dame this time, his dreams will die. He goes to Father Cavanaugh and asks if he's done everything he needed to do. Rudy wants to know if there's anything else he needs to accomplish or should have done. Father Cavanaugh suggests he pray, signalling to Rudy that he has done everything possible. Now he must wait on the actions of others
Throughout Rudy's years at Holy Cross, Cavanaugh is a continual source for hope, but hope alone will not be sufficient. If he wants to make it to Notre Dame, he must improve his grades.
The Mind Character: D-Bob (Jon Favreau)
D-Bob is a teaching assistant in a class Rudy is taking at Holy Cross. He sees Rudy's efforts to pass the class and tries to tell him he need not take so many notes. Rudy then expresses his desires to improve his grades and make it into Notre Dame. Ultimately, D-Bob agrees to tutor Rudy.
There is a line in the film that would go unnoticed to most people, but is significant in defining D-Bob as the mind character. Rudy is talking about how his grades have improved and mentions that D-Bob did some testing and discovered Rudy was dyslexic. Not only did D-Bob help with his grades, he recognized a problem and worked to solve it.
Ultimately, Rudy makes the grade, but he still needs help to achieve his dreams.
The Body Character: Fortune (Charles S. Dutton)
When Rudy gets to Holy Cross, he has no place to stay and no money. He says he spent all his savings on tuition. He checks bulletin boards for rooms to rent, but never gets one. Rudy wants to be a part of Notre Dame, but can't because he is not a student. He offers to help Fortune, the groundskeeper at Notre Dame Stadium, even if it means working for free. Fortune gives Rudy a minimum wage job, which provides food for Rudy, but not a place to stay. When Fortune figures out Rudy is breaking into the grounds locker room at night, he leaves a blanket and a key so Rudy can have a permanent place to sleep.
Fortune takes care of Rudy's basic needs, but he also helps Rudy deal with some selfish pride toward the end of his football career at Notre Dame.
In addition to Fortune, the Notre Dame football team plays the role of a body character. If you've seen the movie, you should be able to figure that on out on your own.
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