There Will Be Blood Essay Questions

How does the title of the film play into the oil Daniel is searching for?

There Will Be Blood itself is a symbol. The word "blood" represents the crude oil that Daniel is extracting from the earth. It is the “life blood” of his business. He will find it no matter the cost, no matter what it takes. The symbolic blood becomes actual blood when Daniel is willing to kill to keep his grip secure on the fortune he's controlled for so long. The wording of the title is taken from the book of Exodus in the Bible, when God describes to Moses the first of several plagues which will befall Egypt. This allusion invokes the idea of a land that is cursed for its wickedness, and that terrible fate will befall those who do not act justly.

What is the symbolism in Daniel's last name being Plainview?

Daniel is a man who on the surface appears to people in the way he desires for them to see him, which is up front and reasonable. He's got his cards all on the table. He is in ‘plain view.’ But, ironically Daniel is the complete opposite of his surname. He operates beneath the surface (both literally and figuratively) rarely giving up any information to anyone no matter how close they are to him. He is a man that has worked very hard to keep his true nature hidden from all those he encounters in order to keep a grip on the oil he desires and the wealth and power that come with it.

How does Paul Thomas Anderson use the landscape to create contrast?

Throughout the film we see Daniel and other characters exploring vast territories of what appears to be empty land on the surface. Anderson slowly begins to fill these landscapes with automobiles and people in order to play on what the audience of this time knows: America will be built up by industry and all of this land will eventually become homes, buildings, stores, gas stations, et cetera. And from this use of contrast we begin to understand how ruthless men like Daniel were instrumental in building the America we now live in.

Discussing the film, famed director Quentin Tarantino asserts that Daniel’s journey across the desert with a broken leg gives him the “heroic right” to pursue his fortune in the rest of the film. Do you agree or disagree with Tarantino? Explain.

Tarantino is correct that Daniel’s journey is a heroic accomplishment which would function as a pivotal step in a traditional hero’s narrative. But his assertion that Daniel has “earned” what he gains later in the film overlooks the ethics of other actions he must take to complete this task. Virtually all of his gains come directly at the expense of other people, people who have not wronged him in any way. The film deconstructs the myth of the American hero.

What traits do Eli and Daniel have in common?

Though they come from contrasting walks of life—business and religion—Daniel and Eli both share great ambition and a knack for taking advantage of people and circumstances around them. They also have a talent for performance; Daniel in his business pitches to landholders and Eli to his congregation. The veracity of their belief in their own institutions (Daniel in the principles of honest business and Eli in his supposed status as a prophet) are questionable, but they are able to consistently sell other people on their own mythology. At their most primal level, Daniel and Eli share a deep desire to dominate the lives of others for their own benefit and satisfaction, ultimately locking them in a battle to dominate each other’s lives.