Class # 14

Frisnedi, Nadine T.
2013101056

HUM15/ B8
September 6, 2014
RP2
Weird but Wonderful

Big Fish is a story of giving value to family, understanding each other, showing love and
kindness, and being the person you want to be.
The movie has many themes. One of which is the family relationship. Almost all of us
have families. I cannot say all but I know these people who have none still have people around
them to call a family. We can relate to this kind of theme even though different people have
different kinds of relationship with their father. Some have a very close one, others are distant to
each other and some are just fine, not too close but not apart. The story mainly focuses in the
father and son relationship of Edward, the father of William. William was still young, he
believed all the stores his father told him, even if they all seem to be impossible, not factual and
not truthful at all. William got tired of all the stories his father keeps on telling all the other
people. These people liked his fathers stories so much while William started to keep his distance
even during his wedding day because even before he knew that these stories are impossible.
William had this mindset that his father Edward are keeping the truth and concealing it within
these stories which includes characters of a witch, then a giant, and a werewolf where he found
in circuses, different towns and in places that seem unreal like the city of Spectre. When William
received the news that his father has become weaker, he went there to know and find out the
truth, the truth that he wants not the stories his father Edward always tell him. In the end,
William realizes that he should believe in his father even if it does not make sense at all. There is
always a reason for everything. From my own experience, my dad and I had tons of arguments
but we do not let it become a big deal and we always talk afterwards and forgive each other. It is
true that our parents want the best for us thats why when they say that we should believe in
them, we should because they know better.
Irony is another theme of the story. I can say irony because of two things that were shown
in the movie, death and immortality. Death is one thing that we all have in common. It may come
too soon to others and some get to live longer but we all die in the end however as I have said,
immortality is also present because in the movie. In the movie, even though Edward dies, the

stories that he told for so many times seems like he becomes those stories and in the end people
will remember them, and these stories will be told as time passes by, he becomes immortal.
When a loved one passed away, you know they are gone but the memories you had with him or
her gives you happiness and makes you feel that he or she might still be around. When you
remember them it feels like they never left. I feel that most of the time when I remember my aunt
who almost raised me up as her own child. Life is unfair. Let us accept this fact. Other people get
to have more than what you have or maybe others may have that something you really want but
you can never have. How ironic? Another irony in the story is when Edwards one true love,
Sandra was supposed to get married to another man from Edwards town, Ashton who is named
Don Price. Edwards was like the cool guy in that town but why would Sandra like that man?
Also, he knew her and got her to be his fianc first? Ironic right? Edward knew he wanted to let
go and respect her decision but he cant help it but to do whatever it takes just to make Sandra
fall in love with him and marry him which was his plan for a very long time. Imagine, he worked
hard for three years just to get an information about her and this is just going to be their ending?
Maybe that was on his mind so he did whatever he has to do. I wonder why some still get good
grades even though they dont really study. I mean I exert so much effort but others get better
scores. Also why are the bad guys the rich ones? I am a good person yet I dont even get to buy
new clothes. I realize that it is not about our performance or how good we think we do. God
wants us to live a life where we can enjoy it but money isnt always a way how we can enjoy it.
Living a life of purpose and according to His perfect plan is the reason why I am here in Mapua,
studying and struggling to get better grades. He always works in ways I could never understand
but always in the perfect time.
Love is also a theme of the story. According to Mark Twain, love is a language that the
deaf can hear and blind can see. I agree to him. We all experience loving someone, being loved,
falling in and out of love in different ways. We can deny about it or tell that you never have
experienced it but most of us can relate to love because love is universal, love can come in
different ways, from different people, in the present or in the past. In the movie, Edward showed
how much he loves his wife Sandra. He worked so hard and did a lot of sacrifices for her. He was
gone for a long time yet he remained faithful to her. The theme of love does not just between
Edward and his wife but also between him and his son, William. He wanted William to

understand him though he knows that his son became so distant to him anymore more like they
know each other but they really dont know the true person. William finally let go of his anger
and realized that he just needs to understand his father and love hm. I never fell in love but I
know I love my family and they love me. We might have misunderstandings but we do not forget
to patch things up. Love overcomes everything.
Another theme in the movie, Big Fish is kindness. Did you ever experience someone let
you sit in the LRT train? I did. Did you ever experience someone giving you food even though
that person only got a few but still shared whatever he or she had to you? I did. Perhaps all of us
might have experience kindness from others or we, ourselves showed kindness to others by
helping them carry something or doing others a favor. In the movie, Edward Bloom was so kind
and did so many thing just to help others. He helped the giant, Karl to finally get a job, he helped
his poet friend Northern to rob a bank even if he was not really a bad guy, He helped the twins to
escape and start a new life in United States and lastly, he was the one who restored Spectre with
the help of his friends. There came a time when I lost my wallet. I just realized it when I am
about to pay for the fare. The money I had in my pocket was a huge amount and the money left
in my bag and pocket was so little. I only got more than 50 pesos but the fare is 70 pesos so I
could go home in Batangas. A man beside me showed kindness and generosity that he gave me
20 pesos so that I pay the fare. I am very thankful of that man and thankful to God that He made
me sit beside that good man even though I lost my wallet.
I could say that another theme from Big Fish is to dream big. We all have goals that we
want to accomplish in life. Some might say that they just have simple dreams but it is still a
dream. We just dont go ahead and follow them and that was the opposite of what Edward Bloom
did in the story. Edward was not afraid to follow his dreams and go into the direction of what he
thinks he must do. He left the town which he thinks is too small for him and went to a journey.
Like Edward, I wanted to accomplish my goals. My dream is to finish my degree in engineering
in Mapua so I left the province and studied here in Manila. Then afterward graduating I will
work, save up money, and enroll in a flying school so that I could fulfill my dream, to become a
pilot.

I believe that we should have a better understanding of everything. It is alright to reason

out, but sometimes it is not deep nor hiding the facts. Learning how to trust someone is important
specially if you are family.