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Ghost Dog The Way Of The Samurai Themes

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"Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai," is an intriguing film that delves into themes of identity, meaning, and existentialism. In this paper, I will use ideas from Martin Heidegger's influential work "Being and Time" to analyze certain elements of Ghost Dog's life, choices, and actions, as well as those of the other characters in the film. We can gain a deeper understanding of the film and show hidden existential elements that may bypass those who are unfamiliar with Heidegger's concepts by digging into Heidegger's work. Heidegger argues that living an authentic existence requires individual choice and responsibility.. Heidegger states in "Being and Time,” "The disclosedness of Dasein in wanting to have a conscience, is thus constituted by anxiety …show more content…

Another character in the movie also displays Heidegger's concept. Louise, as a young girl in the film, portrays "Everydayness" through her portrayal of a typical child living an ordinary, everyday life. She is trapped within the limits of her daily experiences, unaware of the existential difficulties that exist beneath the surface. However, Louise's perspective expands as she interacts with Ghost Dog, exposing her to a world beyond her everyday existence. With his dedication to the samurai code and philosophical outlook, Ghost Dog forces Louise to consider the meaning and purpose of her own life. Breaking out of "Everydayness" in Heidegger's view requires a greater awareness of one's own existence and a willingness to confront the basic issues of being. Louise's interactions with Ghost Dog open the door for this awareness. She begins to see life in ways other than the ordinary and becomes more open to the possibilities of authentic existence. Louise's growth in the film emphasizes the ability of people of all ages and backgrounds to transcend the constraints of everyday life and engage with existential questions. It shows the experiences people who are living authentically can have on one's own journey to discovering …show more content…

This is the result of accepting our freedom and responsibility to make choices that define our authenticity. Ghost Dog displays this existential tension in the film as he deals with the ethical consequences of his actions as a hitman. In “Being and Time”, Heidegger states “Anxiety in the face of death must not be confused with fear in the face of one’s demise. This anxiety is not an accidental or random mood of ‘weakness’ in some individual; but, as a basic state-of-mind of Dasein, it amounts to the disclosedness of the fact that Dasein exists as thrown being towards its end.” This quote is basically talking about how Heidegger believes that anxiety isn’t an emotion only some people feel or something that people feel temporarily but that its a deep concern in existentialism and comes from the fact that our existence isn’t infinite and that death is

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