Adversity In Slumdog Millionaire

How ones perception of adversity affects their character

Slumdog Millionaire

The way in which adversity shapes a person's character is greatly influenced by their individual experiences, resiliency, and perspective. Consequently a person's perception of the adversity they have experienced may have a significant impact on how said conflict affects their character.

The protagonists Jamal and Salim in the film Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle illustrate how hardship can form an individual's character in vastly different ways, with Jamal’s integrity and empathy contrasting sharply with Salim's willingness to compromise his values in the face of adversity. Salim’s opportunism as a consequence of the challenges of poverty, abuse, and the tragic

The hope of finding his lost friend was enough reason for Jamal to preserve his identity and morality through times of hardship. Salim and Jamal, have distinct perceptions of their adversity as a result of their age and the power dynamic between the two boys and not due to faith or chance. The biggest contrast between the boys is their empathy and their display of emotion, however their unique display of personality makes perfect sense. Salim’s character is an exact reflection of his experiences but more specifically his role when facing those challenges. Since Salim was put in a position of responsibility and power over his brother at such a young age his ignorance and lack of proper guidance causes him to have to grow up sooner than any child should. Because of this Salim takes his need for power, willingness to do wrong to get his way, and inability to display his emotions other than anger is carried with him into his adult life. Jamal, on the other hand, carried into adulthood a sense of fearlessness, innocence, and naivety that originated from his youthful optimism and his time spent with his brother. Salim was focused on getting by, while Jamal was preoccupied with Latika. His

Film is not the only medium that illustrates this. Although hardship breeds resilience, grit, and perseverance other traits are formed on an individual level. Although I could offer my own experiences or thoughts on this matter or how it may have affected me I would prefer to take a different, perhaps more philosophical approach. It's a proven fact that there is some level of continuity amongst the personality of younger children, this is likely a due to that fact the children are reflection of their parents personality however once children grow older or towards the end of adolescence their character develops quirks or unique traits that are not reflected in their parents or siblings. These quirks and traits are often a cause of the adversity they face but more specifically their perspective when facing adversity. The most common effects of adversity can be negative, ones who experience conflict often reflect the negative traits associated with hardship they undergo. In spite of this many grow from their hardship, when a challenge is introduced in one's life, positivity is essential. Those who encounter affliction with a head on and resilient mindset are often motivated to move past their tragedies and cultivate growth within their