Introduction
Jerry Lundegaard, played by William H. Macy, is one of the main characters in the 1996 movie “Fargo,” directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. He is the senior sales manager at the Minneapolis car dealership, which his father-in-law owns. He had been struggling to make money due to a lack of financial provision, so a cunning idea popped into his mind that he should take his wife only to get money from his wealthy father-in-law (BrainPilot, 2024). However, as the plot continues, there is a trail of mischievous and unbearable situations. This essay aims to learn more about Jerry Lundegaard’s personality, which holds inclinations, his actions, and the consequences in the movie.
Character Profile
Jerry Lundegaard is such a difficult person to understand. On the surface, he may appear pleasant and harmless, but behind the mask, this man is nothing more than a desperate and greedy person. He is driven by a greed for money and luxury and a horror of financial loss. Although his social friendliness disguises an underhand and immoral man, he is still ready to benefit from others for his purposes (BrainPilot, 2024). Jerry’s actions, which started with a spiral of events, ended with a disaster in which he and everyone around him faced severe problems.
Analysis Sections
Background: Because Jerry had been the salesman of a struggling car dealer, his monthly income has shrunk (BrainPilot, 2024). He is unhappy about himself, being an executive and rich person like his father-in-law. Then, he would try to make himself look better and improve his family situation.
Motivation: Jerry’s primary aspiration is profit. Jerry eventually resolves that selling his shares will be the wisest move. He has his wife kept captive to pay off his debts, which are growing bigger by the day, and then he will get the money he will need to put in a profitable real estate deal (MGM, 2021). Greed prevents him from seeing that his deeds affect others, and the call of conscience becomes unrecognizable.
Visual Elements: As the movie unfolds, it is possible to observe Jerry’s behavior and physical appearance, demonstrating how his troubles emerge. He constantly acts apprehensive and restless to hint that he has much guilt in his heart (MGM, 2021). His miscellaneous way of dressing and the tense atmosphere of people around him show that he has problems inside and that his well-ordered exterior is falling apart.
Consequences: All that Jerry did in the end were many deaths and his fall. His poor management skills and inadequate planning prompt the failure of his plan and, worse, a possible interrogation from the police. He wants to conceal his guilt, pretending that the bad things never happened. However, his actions only exacerbate the situation and ultimately seal his fate forever.
Critical Reflection
Individuals must be aware of the adverse effects of uncontrolled greed based on how Lundegaard’s character is presented. Jerry looks like a typical person from the outside, but his lack of morals and ability to hurt people for his selfish interest tell me of the existence of evilness in everyone. Due to his sad fall, he serves as a stern piece of exemplification because of what constitutes a human being’s corruption.
Conclusion
Jerry Lundegaard from “Fargo” is an excellent example of how people are complicated and greed is bad. Jerry portrays how he checked out the warranty of acting as desired and being morally correct through his actions and his presentation of his reasons for the action. Even though Jerry’s story concludes with a tragic end, his character continues to exist as an engrossing and sharp-edged illustration of what role dishonesty and greed can play in one’s life.
References
BrainPilot. (2024, January 18). FARGO (1996) EXPLAINED & Origin Of The Coen Brothers Movie. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from www.youtube.com website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdieQL9HqRc
MGM. (2021). Fargo (1996) | Official Trailer | MGM Studios. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju75Sd4yAZw
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