English Composition I: Mookie's Character Evolution Essay

This essay examines the character evolution of Mookie in Spike Lee's film, 'Do the Right Thing.' It explores Mookie's transformation from an individualistic delivery boy to a figure who incites a riot, driven by a heightened social consciousness of racial prejudice. The essay analyzes key scenes, such as Mookie's interactions with Da Mayor and Radio Raheem, highlighting how these encounters shape his perspective. It traces Mookie's shift from prioritizing personal concerns to taking a stand against injustice, culminating in his decisive act of smashing Sal's pizzeria window, an action driven by his understanding of the injustice Radio Raheem faced. The essay emphasizes Mookie's growth and his eventual 'doing the right thing' for his community.

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How Mookie did “Do the Right Thing”
In the Spike Lee film Doing The Right Thing, the issue of racism and prejudice is
explored using a predominantly African American neighborhood. Mookie lives in the
neighborhood and is employed as a delivery boy at a pizzeria owned by Sal, an Italian American.
Mookie is portrayed as being a level headed teenager trying to avoid trouble with the law while
also having to put up with the open racism at the pizzeria. In one scene, Mookie is advised by Da
Mayor (the neighborhood drunk) to always “do the right thing.” Mookie’s character progresses
from being individually focused to developing a more social consciousness of the racial
prejudice against members of his community, and does the “right thing” by inciting a riot at Sal’s
pizzeria.
Mookie is shown as being overly focused on himself in a scene where he avoids two
people passing out pamphlets. He is heading towards Sal's pizzeria and does not have time for
the two who appear to be social activists. He reaches a house and looks up to greet Mother Sista
who is seated near an upstairs window and looking toward the street. Mother Sista implores
Mookie to avoid trouble to which Mookie responds in the affirmative. This shows that even
though Mookie is only concerned about himself, he is willing to heed the advice of those more
mature and wiser than him. This establishes his character as one that is level headed who is keen
to accept advice and do the “right thing” in a tough neighborhood.

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The progression of Mookie’s character is shown when he meets Radio Raheem who
walks about the neighborhood with a big stereo system playing rap music. When the two meet,
Radio Raheem is shown wearing two brass knuckles on each hand. One set is emblazoned with
the words HATE while the other has the words LOVE. Radio Raheem explains to Mookie how
hate and love are in opposition but ultimately love wins. Radio Raheem graphically paints a
picture of the racial relations in the black neighborhood using the metaphor of a boxing match.
Mookie’s character progresses to show that his social awareness has started to awaken using
advice from his Radio Raheem who is a peer.
In the closing scene of the film, Radio Raheem is strangled to death by two policemen
who had been called to disperse the riot in Sal’s pizzeria. As the group watched after Radio
Raheeem’s body was taken away by the police, Mookie takes a rubbish can and crushes the
window of the pizzeria. This action incites the crowd of African Americans to enter the pizzeria,
vandalizing and burning it. Mookie by this time has undergone a personal transformation and is
more conscious of the prejudice against his ethnicity. He decides to move from the cocoon of
individual focus and leads his community in collective action against the injustice done to Radio
Raheem. Even though he may be judged in a different light, Mookie end’s up “doing the right
thing” for Radio Raheem.