There Will Be Blood (2007)

Brief Intro

“There Will Be Blood,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is a 2007 American epic period drama. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, a ruthless oilman, and Paul Dano as Eli Sunday, a charismatic preacher. Set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the movie explores themes of ambition, religion, and the corrosive effects of greed.

Literary Devices Used in There Will Be Blood

Symbolism

Movie Scene	Example
The opening scene of oil discovery	Oil symbolizes wealth, power, and corruption
Daniel’s final confrontation with Eli	The bowling alley symbolizes the ultimate emptiness of greed

Foreshadowing

Movie Scene	Example
H.W.’s early hearing loss	Foreshadows his estrangement from Daniel
The abandoned well in the opening sequence	Foreshadows the eventual downfall of Daniel

Irony

Movie Scene	Example
Eli’s demand for money from Daniel	Irony of the preacher being greedy
Daniel’s “I drink your milkshake” speech	The irony of a simple phrase capturing deep betrayal

Metaphor

Movie Scene	Example
Daniel referring to oil as his “child”	Oil as a metaphor for Daniel’s life’s obsession
The church scenes	Religion as a metaphor for manipulation and power

Imagery

Movie Scene	Example
The vast, barren landscapes	Imagery of isolation and desolation
The fiery oil well explosion	Imagery of hell and destruction

Motif

Movie Scene	Example
Recurrent scenes of drilling	Motif of exploitation
Repeated religious ceremonies	Motif of hypocrisy

Allegory

Movie Scene	Example
Daniel’s rise to power	Allegory for capitalist greed
Eli’s manipulation of his followers	Allegory for religious exploitation

Allusion

Movie Scene	Example
References to the Bible in Eli’s sermons	Allusions to biblical themes of sin and redemption
Daniel’s name	Allusion to the biblical Daniel, symbolizing conflict

Juxtaposition

Movie Scene	Example
Daniel’s baptism scene	Juxtaposition of spiritual salvation and personal ambition
H.W.’s innocence vs. Daniel’s ruthlessness	Juxtaposition highlighting moral decay

Tone

Movie Scene	Example
Opening scene without dialogue	Establishes a tone of foreboding and tension
Daniel’s confrontations with Eli	Tone of hostility and menace

Character Analysis Through Literary Devices

Daniel Plainview

Device	Explanation
Symbolism	Daniel’s obsession with oil symbolizes his lust for power and control
Irony	Despite his wealth, Daniel’s life is empty and isolated
Foreshadowing	Early scenes hint at Daniel’s ultimate moral and emotional downfall

Eli Sunday

Device	Explanation
Metaphor	Eli represents the corrupting influence of false piety
Allegory	Eli’s character serves as an allegory for religious manipulation
Juxtaposition	Eli’s religious fervor contrasts with his underlying greed

Character Dynamics

Device	Explanation
Juxtaposition	The contrasting personalities of Daniel and Eli drive the narrative
Irony	Both Daniel and Eli seek power, though through different means
Symbolism	Their relationship symbolizes the conflict between capitalism and religion

Thematic Analysis

Ambition and Greed

Device	Explanation
Symbolism	Oil as a symbol of unchecked ambition and greed
Imagery	The barren landscapes underscore the destructive nature of greed

Religion vs. Capitalism

Device	Explanation
Juxtaposition	Contrast between Daniel’s business ruthlessness and Eli’s religious zeal
Metaphor	The church services as metaphors for the exploitation inherent in both capitalism and religion

Isolation

Device	Explanation
Imagery	Daniel’s isolated mansion reflects his emotional isolation
Foreshadowing	H.W.’s early isolation hints at his future separation from Daniel

Cinematic Techniques That Enhance Literary Devices

Literary Device	Technique	Explanation
Symbolism	Cinematography	Wide shots of oil rigs highlight the symbol of industrialization
Irony	Sound Design	Ominous music during seemingly peaceful scenes creates dramatic irony
Imagery	Visual Effects	The vivid depiction of the oil fire visually represents hell and chaos
Foreshadowing	Editing	Early quick cuts to H.W. losing his hearing foreshadow future events
Tone	Lighting	Dark, shadowy lighting in key scenes establishes a sinister tone

Key Scene Analysis

Scene 1: The Oil Discovery

• Breakdown: This scene uses imagery and symbolism to introduce oil as a central symbol of wealth and corruption. The barren landscape highlights the desolation and foreshadows the moral decay of the characters.

Scene 2: The Baptism

• Breakdown: This scene juxtaposes religious piety with personal ambition. The irony of Daniel’s forced baptism and his mocking tone towards Eli underscore the theme of false piety.

Scene 3: Final Confrontation

• Breakdown: The final confrontation between Daniel and Eli in the bowling alley uses symbolism and tone to highlight the ultimate emptiness and destructiveness of their pursuits. The stark, empty setting symbolizes the void of their achievements.

Conclusion

Interactive Quiz

1. What does oil symbolize in the film?
   • A) Wealth and prosperity
   • B) Corruption and greed
   • C) Purity and cleanliness
   • D) Religious faith
2. Which literary device is prominently used in the baptism scene?
   • A) Metaphor
   • B) Irony
   • C) Allegory
   • D) Foreshadowing
3. What is the significance of the barren landscapes?
   • A) They represent the untouched potential of the land
   • B) They symbolize isolation and desolation
   • C) They highlight the beauty of nature
   • D) They serve as a backdrop for industrial progress
4. How does the film use sound design to create dramatic irony?
   • A) By using cheerful music during tense scenes
   • B) By having no music at all
   • C) By using ominous music during seemingly peaceful scenes
   • D) By using loud, jarring sounds randomly
5. What theme does the relationship between Daniel and Eli highlight?
   • A) Love and friendship
   • B) Religion vs. capitalism
   • C) Family loyalty
   • D) Adventure and exploration

Answers:

1. B
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. B