2 questions on "Do the right thing"

1. What purpose does money serve in the film?

Money does not play a major role in the movie. Instead, it serves as an image of racism. In the Korean shop, people always complained about the prize where as the shopkeeper claimed that they sell at low prize. Whenever people pay, they drop the money impolitely. The similar situation is demonstrated in Sal’s Famous Pizzeria. Although people get used to hang out in the place, the way the treated each other does not seem like clerks to customers at all. The attitude is disrespectful rather than casual. They are linked by material enjoyments and isolated by distrust due to racism. A significant performance of money shows in the last scene of the movie. Sal pinched the bills, which is twice as much as Mookie’s salary, into balls and threw at him to “pay” him. Surprisingly, Mookie threw the excessive bills back at Sal. Sal showed a surprising mood on his face. When it seemed to be some hope, Mookie picked up them again and left. After all, Mookie could not give up the distrust of racism.

2. What is the moral of the story?

“Do the right thing” ended up in a ruin after violence. Although begun with a dance claimed “fight the power”, as far as I am concerned, the movie wants to tell us the moral that nothing can be accomplished by conflict. Racism finds itself in the daily life of the neighborhood. Heated by the hot weather, it is not possible for people to bear the disconnection between them anymore. Thus they use violence to deal with the problem. What have they achieved? Is it possible to exchange Radio’s life with Sal’s Famous Pizzeria? All the anger burn the pizzeria down. However, will it go away? Yes, maybe it goes away, but the unchanged fact is that it turns into sorrow and regret. Sometimes violence is a method, yet never will it be a settlement. Recognize what is relative and what is absolute is the essential criteria of life.