FINAL OUTPUT IN

CHRISTIAN ETHICS (CE2)

TITLE: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

SUBMITTED BY: PACHINGEL, COLLIN JASPER C. - BSN 2C

DATE: APRIL 10, 2023

CHARACTERS OF THE MOVIE

1. Enumerate the characters in the movie and describe their roles

Chris Gardner - He is a seller of bone-density scanning equipment. He is tough,

intelligent, and puts in a lot of work. He is the primary character since he is crucial to the
plot of the entire picture. Gardner is a decent person. When he was walking around his
son's school, he wondered when the word "Fuck" would be cleaned because it was a
terrible thing, especially since it was inscribed on the doors surrounding the school.

Christopher Gardner - He is Chris Gardner's five-year-old kid. He also serves as Chris

Gardner's central figure. He is completely aware of his father's condition. He is clever
and has a powerful intellect.

Linda Gardner - She works as a laundromat employee. Stewart's spouse. She lacks
patience. She has a strict and hot temper. She is the adversary since Chris Gardner
consistently held opinions that were in opposition to hers.

Jay Twistle - Chris pursues him relentlessly until he pays attention to him and gets the
chance to show his worth at Dean Witter.

Taxi Driver - the taxi that Chris Gardner took. Chris Gardner got out of the vehicle
without paying the fare, which severely enraged him..

Martin Frohm - The person who made the announcement that Christopher had been
hired as a stockbroker is Chris' manager.

Alan Frakesh - Christopher's superior.

Walter Ribbon - Chris and his son, Christopher Jr., are even given tickets to a San
Francisco 49ers game by a renowned pension fund manager.

Mrs.Chu - proprietor of Christopher's kindergarten.

Wayne - A acquaintance of Chr. S. who owes him $14.

Hippie Girl - the person who took a bone-density scanner from Chris.

Chinese Maintenance Worker - the man who taught Chris how to properly spell happy
throughout their conversation.
2. Summarize the movie
The real-life tale of Chris Gardner, who fought to provide for his family during a difficult
period when the US was experiencing a severe recession, served as the inspiration for
the film "The Pursuit of Happiness." The phrase "Pursuit of Happiness" is briefly
mentioned in the opening scene. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of
Independence that Americans have the right to "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of
Happiness." Chris Gardner considers what it means and how it relates to the idea that
everyone is created equal. He understands that not everyone experiences true
happiness and that it might be difficult to achieve happiness.

The narrative was distinctive because Chris Gardner described his lifestyle,
which included taking the bus, exercising, doing an internship, and being happy. The
first four chapters of his life, which are ordered chronologically, show Chris's search of
happiness as he fights valiantly for it. The difficulties that overcame him during that
disastrous time in his life are the ones that are shown in the movie as challenges. His
life was full of difficulties, including his struggle to lose his work, his wife leaving him, his
inability to pay taxes, his complete financial collapse, his subsequent homelessness,
and his decision to enroll in an unpaid training program with an unclear future while
jobless. When he eventually received a job offer as a stockbroker at Dean Witter and
went on to create his own own business, earning thousands of thousands of dollars, the
final chapter of his life shows the happy portion.

Speaking about acting, Will Smith had a superb performance in "The Pursuit of
Happiness." In the movie, he performs better than Will Smith often does in romantic
comedies and action movies. He played the role of Chris Gardner, a trouble-driven man
going through the hardest time of his life. His acting was so realistic that it allowed the
audience to truly understand Gardner's character, who is so financially strapped that he
waits in hopelessness with his son in front of a shelter in order to find a place to stay for
the night. Other than Smith, the only other character who stuns the audience is Jaden
Smith, who played Christopher Gardner's son in the role. Will Smith's own son Jaden
was cast as the primary character's kid by director Gabriele Muccino, who made a
brilliant choice since the father-son combination perfectly captures the bond between
Gardner and his son. Gardner drew strength from Christopher through all the difficulties
he faced, and both Jaden and Will Smith's performances on the big screen made that
clear.
3. What type of hedonistic ethic is portrayed in the movie, and why do you think so?

I believe that Motivational Hedonism and Ethical Hedonism is the form of

hedonistic ethics that was depicted in the film Pursuit of Happiness. Note that I have
taken and read some study on the many types of hedonism and I found out that these I
think matches the movie best. Motivational hedonism and Ethical Hedonism, also
known as psychological hedonism and the other one hedonistic ethics, Motivational
Hedonism is the belief that our conduct is dictated by our goals to experience pleasure
and to avoid suffering. This sort of hedonism ethics is defined here. The majority of
motivational hedonistic explanations prioritize the unconscious wants for pleasure
above conscious ones. Ethical Hedonism on the other hand is philosophy emphasizes
that pleasure is the ultimate good and that we should strive to maximize our pleasure
while minimizing our pain, If we see to it, both are most likely the same.

Now, why did I feel that these moral codes complemented the film the best? The
Pursuit of Happiness, a fictionalized account of Chris Gardner's almost one-year
struggle with homelessness, parenthood, divorce, and a determination to succeed in
order to support his son Christopher Junior, is based on true events. It is a tale that
demonstrates a man's drive to succeed and find a method to take care of his son. The
movie, which is set in San Francisco, opens with Gardner investing his whole life
savings in Bone-Density Scanners, a useless invention that causes the family's finances
to collapse. His wife later leaves him and gives him custody of their son Christopher.
Gardner's eviction from his home, as well as the garnishment of his bank account and
credit cards, led to more issues. Accordingly, he is sent to live on the streets, but his
encounter with Jay, the Dean Witter manager, sets him on the road to success; his new-
found. Will Smith, as Chris Gardner, has a long-standing desire to escape poverty, have a
reliable source of income, avoid eating and sleeping on the streets, and not have to battle
for a place to live for him and his kid. He wants to escape all the misery he presently
experiences on a daily basis; thus, all of his actions are for him and his child. This may
seem strange to include in a film with what appears to be a cheerful conclusion, but I've
previously shown my skepticism about that. The most significant argument is that
happiness, as we now understand it, is an idealized state that people or communities
should be able to reach but, frustratingly, never can.

However, despite these actions being driven by self-interest, Gardner also

displays a strong sense of responsibility towards his son and his obligations as a father.
This indicates the presence of a second ethic in his character, that of caring or altruism,
which serves as a counterpoint to his hedonistic tendencies.
 Overall, the movie portrays a complex depiction of hedonistic ethics, suggesting
that while the pursuit of pleasure and self-interest can lead to personal fulfillment, it
must be balanced with a sense of responsibility and care for others to truly achieve
happiness.

4. What values or virtues can you learn from the movie? Discuss at least 3–5 values
or virtues and how you will apply them in your daily life and in your profession. (Give
at least 3 virtues.)

Perseverance is the key to success

To persist is to keep trying to do or achieve something in spite of obstacles, setbacks, or

opposition. The key is making every attempt to get back up after being knocked down by
life and not giving up. You're interested in that position? To gain the job, follow up with
people, meet new people, and learn something new, you must take every available step.
When Chris sought an internship at Dean Witter, he made sure he knew who was going
to help him obtain it, made a point to create a personal connection with the individual,
and made a point to solve a Rubik's cube to gain some attention. You see, you can't use
the same strategy to draw attention to yourself (thank goodness, I've never been able to
solve a Rubik's cube in my life!).

Failures are inevitable in life.

There are no failures in life, I've come to believe. They just cause a little delay in
getting to your destination. Chances are, if you don't succeed in that job interview, you'll
find another job possibly a better one. I hold this lesson, which is a personal one,
extremely dear.

After only 18 months of corporate experience, I tried to move firms as a call center
representative without having another employment lined up. Despite my confidence in
my skills, I gave a few interviews and didn't perform too well. It's simply the way life is,
though! Despite your best efforts, if something doesn't work out, it just doesn't. I
subsequently landed a fantastic position where I could develop, assume more
responsibility, and enjoy my work. If you are currently experiencing setbacks in life,
realize that they are common and ultimately beneficial. A spring will bounce higher and
further when it is ultimately released the harder you press it.
Most pursuits for happiness may never end

Let's be honest. Humans have a greedy nature. When we accomplish anything, it

makes us joyful, but the next morning, we always want more. Our individual conceptions
of happiness vary, but they frequently shift. It's acceptable to not be one of the very few
people who manage to find full and complete happiness. As we achieve our objectives,
we continue to redefine happiness and pursue it actively, even if we may never fully
succeed in doing so. When you accomplish a life goal that brings you delight, this small
sensation of joy is frequently quite fleeting. The beautiful part of reaching your objective
is the road there—all the lessons learned, the ups and downs, the failures, everything.
That helps you develop personally, and getting there is your reward.

I now have a lot of drive and bravery to confront challenges and get through
difficult times because to this movie. It was difficult to choose only 4 life lessons from the
film because there are so many. The tale of Chris Gardner is amazing; it's certainly one
of the most uplifting and motivating ones I've ever seen. It is amazing how he persevered
given the challenges he has experienced throughout his life.

Always have a sense of humor, no matter the situation you’re in

Imagine how you would feel walking into a job interview that would likely alter your
life after having just been arrested while painting your apartment, wearing a white vest
and jacket, and having white paint all over your face and clothes.

I'm sure I would plan a call to cancel, feel too ashamed to show up, and decline
the invitation. Chris entered the room while knowing he didn't look well and that his
prospects were small, but as soon as you see him enter, he exudes confidence and
attempts to accept the circumstances as they are.

That is something, indeed. It demonstrates Chris's comfort in the circumstance

and his ability to diffuse a difficult situation without escalating it, which is a crucial skill in
the majority of employment today.
REFLECTION

Title: Until one achieves their goals, whether it is in life or death, their ambitions
will never die.

Since the narrative is based on Chris Gardner's journey through poverty before
becoming a businessman, it has the potential to inspire viewers to pursue their dreams
for the benefit of their loved ones. The predictable narrative of the movie is one aspect
that I would call unsatisfactory. This movie holds the audience's interest because many
people can identify to this cliched plot, despite the fact that it is a reality that many
people experience. The movie is more engaging since the entire tale is told with such
emotional fervor. Since the movie teaches us a lot about managing life in spite of many
challenging circumstances, I'd suggest viewing it. This movie has the potential to inspire
people and alter lives. I say this because I think that books and movies have a big
influence on people and may have a big impact. Many individuals have taken what they
have learnt and applied it to their lives over the decades. As a result, I wouldn't suggest
a lousy movie to anyone. The movie "Pursuit of Happyness" is fantastic if you don't
mind sobbing and if you like happy endings, in light of the aforementioned. You will feel
satisfied after watching this film.