Your Move Chief: A Rhetorical Analysis on Film

Good Will Hunting, a late 1990s drama written by the acting duo Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, portrays a young man’s journey overcoming his abusive past and embracing his intellectual potential. The protagonist, Will Hunting’s path towards realizing his immense skill occurs through the guidance of his probation officer’s prescribed therapy sessions. The entrance of Robin Williams’ character, psychiatrist Sean Macguire, leads to several emotional examples of rhetoric that occur throughout the film. Williams’ portrayal of Sean’s dedication to helping Will address his internal adversity brings about the prime example of rhetoric within the film which I have selected to highlight. This particular clip, a short frame commonly referred to as The Bench Scene accurately demonstrates the several aspects of effective rhetoric as defined by Bitzer, and proves a powerful cinematic moment with key rhetorical relevance that translates to current media.

Bitzer emphasizes the basis of particular instances that qualify them as rhetoric when he states, “rhetorical situation may be defined as a complex of persons, events, objects, and relations presenting an actual or potential exigence” (6). Three characteristics of “The Rhetorical Situation” are constraints that complicate the rhetoric’s overall message. An audience, that receives the communication and is called to action by the composer of the situation. Then exigence, the desire behind the given display to convey certain meanings through particular works. 

The idea that a moment or situation can be assumed to have rhetoric occurs when it also demonstrates persuasive elements that cultivate a response. The effective nature of rhetoric, regardless of the form of media it occurs through, is determined by the ability it has to connect to an audience and how strongly the message is conveyed despite the constraints working against it. The circumstances of a rhetorical situation must contain a shared narrative seeking to convince a viewer to recognize the events, and authenticity that outshines any factors that seek to undermine the ideals being portrayed. Each of these specified factors occurs during Robin Williams’ speech to Matt Damon’s character in the film, and the scene itself proves a strong example of the situation Bitzer emphasizes through his list of rhetorical elements. 

Through this short monologue delivered on a park bench, the exigence of Sean Maguire’s narrative is conveyed through his desire to get through to Will. Robin Williams’ talent as an actor makes a convincing display as he emotionally retells his life events to the young man. Sean’s character uses the hardships he experienced in war and the struggles with his wife’s cancer battle to relate to Will and his tragic past and demonstrate that his selfish nature of believing the world is against him, and he alone is victim to the struggles of human existence, proves blatantly false against the obstacles of others. He asserts his authority over Will’s naturally arrogant nature by counteracting it with compassion and wise words. Sean takes the opportunity of Will’s position as his client to come to terms with his personal battles, and through his passionate retelling of the past, he manages to use his desire of self-reflection to assist his work of pushing past Will’s emotional wall.

The conflict caused by Will’s experiences with abuse in the foster system, losing his family, and growing up in Boston feeling completely alone consume him. He responds to the hardships of his existence by acting out, as demonstrated by his countless run-ins with the law, assault, in particular, being the culprit landing him in Sean’s office. Despite his unfortunate circumstances, Will still demonstrates strong potential, his undeniable intelligence being the draw for Sean to get through to him. The psychiatrist uses unconventional methods of rhetoric to fulfill his hope to turn Will’s life around by getting personal about himself first to encourage Will to overcome his past. The details of Will’s extensive struggles, which Sean later elaborates on and demonstrates parallels to his former plights, prove the strongest exigence in the scene. The weight that his flawed reality has on his ability to move forward, catalyzes Sean’s purpose for getting vulnerable with him. As Sean begins to piece together Will’s mind the rhetorical situation of his moving speech are willed into existence and the basis of the work ahead of him to reach the young man’s heart is made known. 

While speaking to Will following his criticism of a paint by numbers in his office, causing a physical altercation between them and an awkward silence to ensue, the emotional breakthrough in the public park becomes inevitable to their relationship’s progression. Sean Maguire seeks to channel his wisdom past the young man’s pride and grant him understanding and insight into his experienced worldview. He utilizes their hour allotted therapy time to share a personal narrative with his client. The primary audience within this scene proves to be Will, as he is physically present next to Sean at the bench. However, it can also be interpreted that by attempting to teach Will the values of his past, Sean is also speaking on some levels to a former version of himself, who he witnesses parts of within Will’s character. Particularly in the moments where he remembers his wife, it becomes apparent that he also sees Nancy as a present member of his life, and by extension she too can be considered as the audience, seeing as their love proved a key aspect of Sean’s monologue. 

Bitzer throughout his outline of rhetorical situations, repeatedly explains that the key behind given rhetoric proves to be discourse and a driving purpose. Rhetorical situations must hold relevance and convey in some capacity a desire for change. This call to action as presented to a given audience holds more importance to the matter than simply receiving the communication, but also to initiate a form of change to occur within the recipient. Sean is not speaking to Will simply in terms of wishing to recount his past, but through his personal narrative, cause an awakening within Will’s nature and hopefully a chance for him to be released from the emotional pain dominating his conscience. Sean uses his rhetorical capabilities as an educated psychologist to get through to his client. Will’s position as the main audience is demonstrated through his solemn nature on the bench during the scene, as well as the later actions he takes as changes in his overall attitude towards Sean become more positive. The effectiveness of Sean’s words is made apparent as Will begins to share his own story. The obligation of a rhetorical audience is fulfilled within Will’s character, when Sean’s efforts come full circle during the equally emotion it’s not your fault scene, another instance of rhetoric within the moving film, proving that Will and Sean’s complicated relationship fulfill the aspects of Bitzer’s understanding of rhetorical situations.

Sean’s efforts to make Will become more in touch with himself as a person in addition to assisting him in moving on from his tragic circumstance, are met with strong resistance from Will’s strong-willed nature. The results of Sean’s genuine account are not necessarily well-received at first glance by Will as he remains silent throughout the five-minute monologue, however, the course of the film allows for the effectiveness of the rhetorical situations on the young man’s life to become known. The constraints of this scene are made prevalent based on Will’s demonstration of stubbornness before this particular climax instance in the film. His arrogance towards Sean’s authority, and constant carelessness towards the other professionals tasked with assisting him, prove a foundation towards his resistance to Sean’s approach of discussion. Another factor that obstructs Maguire’s message occurs when analyzing the tension between the newly acquainted pair. Due to their introduction being less than welcoming, the effectiveness of Sean’s intelligent statements is somewhat lost on his small audience, as Will allows personal bias against the professor to block out the effectiveness of the words Sean shares with him. Will’s poor history with “shrinks” causes him to lack trust and empathy for the vulnerability Sean attempts to share with him, a major constraint on the rhetoric being displayed. Their rocky relationship up until this point proves a challenging constraint to the scene as well. Will is unlikely to trust and fully dedicate his attention to Sean following their prior engagement ending in a fight.

 The parameters of the event impact the overall results of the experience Sean is attempting to relay. Bitzer outlines two separate forms of constraints “those originated or managed by the rhetor and his method… and those other constraints, in the situation, which may be operative” (8). Both of these play a role in complicating Sean’s rhetorical situation as his forceful nature of speaking to Will for the first time in an authoritative nature proves a stark contrast from the kind approach of their introduction. This controlled constraint is intended by Sean, as the speaker, as he seeks to defend himself against Will’s disrespect however, this method creates tension between him and his client and a barrier for his message to Will. The operative circumstances that constrain Sean’s speech occur due to Will’s unfortunate past with authority figures and natural tendency to underestimate and invalidate the efforts of professionals to encourage his personal development and intellectual abilities. 

The rhetoric of The Bench Scene in itself seemingly lacks effectiveness, as Will up until this moment in the film appeared to hold little to no respect for Sean, his superior. But, upon the movie’s progression, obvious changes appear in his character that contradicts his former stubbornness as he begins to slowly share with Sean throughout the course of their remaining exchanges. The lasting result of Sean’s willingness to share even his most intimate memories forms a silent bond between the two as mutual respect over shared hardships draws them to a common understanding. The emotion behind the scene makes it a memorable and effective demonstration of the relevance rhetorical situations can have. Bitzer’s demonstration of the elements of rhetoric is prevalent throughout Good Will Hunting. Sean’s intelligent display of rhetoric to Will highlights the various methods at which certain communication can be conveyed, and his message holds strong desires for change, making it a compelling example of all aspects that Bitzer formulates in his text.Your Move Chief GT (1)Your Move Chief GT (2)Your Move Chief GT (3)