The Importance of Transformation & Redemption in Religion
Transformation & Redemption are strong themes that are often found in Religion and personal development. Transformation involves the internal and external changes that help shift personal behaviours, whether internal or external. It allows for a sense of learning and adapting to become a more mature and honest version of humanity. Humans have the ability to grow and should not be defined for a specific period of their lives. Transformation offers hope with the flaws that once possess, and adds a sense of hope that their flaws do not define them permanently. This theme is evident throughout Pixar's film Cars, as Lightning McQueen has shifted his mindset and self-centered personality from having a selfless passion to win, to discovering a more profound meaning in life by slowing down and learning to become less selfish. "Cars is a film about a flawed protagonist that aspires to be an alpha-male but crashes down in his frantic race for success. When he is forced to slow down, he learns the value and beauty of teamwork and community" (Martín Alegre, 2021)
Transformation & Redemption
Transformation & Redemption are two of the most significant concepts present in Pixar's film Cars.
Early in the film, the protagonist Lightning McQueen has evidently shown his ways of being a self-centered race car, who wanted nothing more in life than winning, and having the glory to himself. Early in the Piston Cup championship, McQueen refuses to allow his pit crew to change the worn-out tires on his race car, opting instead to save time in the pursuit of winning the title. McQueen ends up blowing his tires, lucking his way into a tiebreaker match later in the film.
McQueen's journey to the tie breaker was far from ordinary. After his pit crew quit on him due to his selfish antics, and after he fell out of his driver's truck and lost sight of him at nighttime, he found himself in a frantic state of mind, lost and locked up in the small town of Radiator Springs.
The racecar, which had no sense of love or respect for others, thought it was ridiculous that he had to fix the town's road. The Doc of the city challenged McQueen to a race, stating, "If you win, you go, and I fix the road. If I win, you do the road my way." In McQueen's arrogance, he accepted the race; little did he know that he was going up against the famous "Hudson Hornet", winner of three Piston Cups. McQueen is humbled after losing the race, and after attempting to race around the track or take advice from Doc, he becomes too arrogant, refusing to admit that the older man knows anything. The transformation was evidently shown in this scene. After failing four times around the track, he would rather take advice from others and put it above himself.
While in a conversation with Doc, he heard words that helped him change: "When is the last time you cared about something except yourself, hot rod?" (Macfadyen, 2014).
Hearing this from Doc put into realization that he only ever cares about himself, as he could not answer.
As the movie progressed, the quote that Doc said to McQueen really resonated with him, allowing McQueen to find a more meaningful sense of life by trying to help others rather than just himself. As McQueen became attached to the small town, he helped repair the road to the best of his abilities and gave each person in the town support, as well as customers to the businesses they ran. These actions were not forced upon McQueen; instead, it was a matter of discovering who he truly was and his purpose in life.
Most Important Transformation & Redemption
Arguably, the most essential sense of transformation and Redemption in the movie was at the end. In the final tiebreaker race, Lightning McQueen was about to become the first person to win a Piston Cup, with little more than a lap to go and a commanding lead over the competition. After seeing Dinoco's Strip-Weathers get unethically injured by competitive Chick Hicks, McQueen stopped inches before the finish line. As a result of this, McQueen gave up his chance to win the Piston Cup and turned around to push Strip Weathers to the finish line. This was a scene that showcased character development stemming from the words spoken by Doc.
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