Beast of the Southern Wild Symbols

Symbols is what “Beast of the Southern Wild” is surrounded by, it’s the essence to understanding the entire film. In the title is the word beast, and one of the most important scenes is when the teacher is explaining to the children about the beast. The beast is a symbol for danger as it pertains to the people in this community. The teacher puts emphasis on being, strong and not crying like “little pussies” as she explains that it is important to know what to do when the beast come because its inevitable that the beast will come eventually. The beast threatens communal life, for these people because the beast can come and end the entire communities life. Another symbol that’s important in understanding this movie is the dominance of being a man. Throughout the entire movie I thought Hush Puppy was a boy until the very end when she announced she was a girl. In the very first few scenes Hush Puppy runs up to her dad and tells him that she can burp loud like a man. Which made me think that her father too wanted her to be strong like a man. In the beginning her father also refer to her constantly as “man”. He’s almost never gentle with Hush Puppy as he addresses her. Then its ironic how she asks him why does he have on a dress and a bracelet. Leading me to think that male dominance and being strong is very important to understanding this movie. Overall the essence of this movie is summed up into one sentence by Hush Puppy herself as she says,” The whole universe depends on everything fitting together just right”.