The Personification of Oil and Religion: Daniel Versus Eli in 'There Will Be Blood' Anonymous College

The central conflict in There Will Be Blood (2007) is found in the relationship between the two main characters, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). Daniel’s plain-speaking oilman customs and Eli’s archaic spiritual beliefs represent the overall struggle between oil and religion. Paul Thomas Anderson depicts oil as the factor that draws the line between Daniel and Eli and ultimately causes them to build a deep-rooted hatred for each other. They each represent a side of the juxtaposition: Daniel as oil and Eli as religion. This juxtaposition of oil and religion builds tension and drama by highlighting the parallels between the two main individuals and alluding to religious events and narratives found in the Bible.

Daniel and Eli’s characters are perceived as “shadow selves” of one another. They are overcompensating for their spiritual emptiness by making their fair share of empty promises to the people, each other, and themselves. In the beginning of the film, Daniel agrees to give money to the church in addition to the money he was already giving to the Sunday family for their land. Eli continually pesters Daniel for the money that he owes the church, however, each time that Eli asks for the money,...