Innocence Ignored

Among the characters portrayed in Mystic River, Dave is the only person who can claim innocence. Dave has his misfortunes thrust upon him through his life. His early childhood kidnapping and assault prefaces his life of poor outcomes. Conversely, Dave never warrants any transgressions. Specifically, at the conclusion of the film, Dave pleads his innocence to an enraged Jimmy. Jimmy begs Dave to confess to murdering his daughter. Dave protests until his life is threatened and falsely confesses to the murder. In this case, Dave’s innocence is perverted by those who hold power over him. The kidnappers in the beginning of the film exercise their age and power over Dave, and Jimmy utilizes firearms and ultimatums to achieve the same control. The powerlessness Dave feels can be linked to my poetry analysis of Margaret Atwood. Dave is nature and everyone else is mankind. In my thesis, I analyze how man disrespects nature by using preordained societal roles. Dave is seen as a non-human in Mystic River. He states in the film that Dave (himself) went into that car but never came back out. This self-change of characterization attributes to the mistreatment Dave feels. Jimmy and the police see Dave as a twisted and awkward man — never considering the origin of these personality traits. Dave’s transgressors blame him for the wrongs that happened to him — even when he was a child. Throughout the entirety of his existence, Dave fights an uphill battle, tries to claim his innocence, but is silenced by someone with more power.