Topic > An analysis of the healing myth in Freedom Writers, a film by Richard Lagravenese

Breakdown can come in different forms. The breakup can be described as physical, emotional, or psychological. In stories that have a healing myth, some characters are “broken” and must leave home to become whole again (Seger 373). “Ma'am, I'm lucky if I make it to 18. We are at war. We graduate every day of our lives,” says a Wilson High School student, before describing a life where gang violence, domestic violence and failure are everyday situations. Many lives like this student fill room 203 in the film Freedom Writers, directed by Richard LaGravenese in 2007. Seger's approach to the myth of healing is a great example in this film. In this particular film, using Seger's approach to determining which myth is being told wasn't that difficult. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay While watching this film you realize that the myth of healing is being told. Freedom Writers is a film that portrays many teenagers from bad neighborhoods and involved in gang violence. Some students even experience domestic violence occurring in their daily lives. Many times, many people identify with the most successful films because they experience the same stories or because they all have similar experiences. Seger states, “The universal experience behind these healing stories is our psychological need for rejuvenation, for balance” (373). These students are considered “at-risk youth” and are forced to attend this school or they will be thrown in prison or placed on probation. Only when a specific teacher comes to school and makes a big difference in their lives does it make them whole again. As the new teacher begins to encourage them and have patience with them, they begin to be modeled and encouraged to change. Instead of giving up on her students, Erin Gruwell inspires them to take an interest in their education and plan for their future. Seger says, “In order to tackle The Healing Myth, most of the characters must leave home to become exiles and receptive to love. Love in these stories is both a healing force and a reward” (373). Each student goes through a different journey to become a new and complete person. “In all cases, something is out of balance and the mythical journey moves toward completeness” (Seger 373). A myth includes some characters that we see in many stories. These characters are called archetypes (Seger 375). There are good archetypes, bad archetypes, and tricksters. Seger gives examples of different archetypes in films such as; The Wizard of Oz from the Good Witch of the North. “They can be thought of as the original “pattern” or “character type” that will be found in the hero's journey” (Seger 375). In Freedom Writers, Erin Gruwell is a good archetype and finds herself “stuck in a classroom full of troubled teenagers bused in from a bad neighborhood. She only has two years of teaching under her belt and is very skeptical about teaching this class because the school administration itself labels these students as “unteachable” and “illiterate” (Freedom Writers, 2007). At the beginning of the school year Erin Gruwell struggles because most of the students don't trust her and she doesn't even know how to earn their trust. “He must overcome a series of obstacles that transform him in the process, and then face the final challenge that draws on internal and external resources” (Seger 373). Mrs. Gruwell talks to the students on their level and begins to explain what the Jews experienced and”.