MovieChat Forums > Erin Brockovich (2000) Discussion > Norma Rae vs. Erin Brockovich

Norma Rae vs. Erin Brockovich

posted 8 years ago by Funky12345
1 reply | jump to latest

In Norma Rae, we see an evolution with Norma Rae, the character. She becomes more open-minded: she becomes more accepting of different kinds of people and she ceases being so promiscuous - she is true blue to her husband. She has one goal in mind, and that is putting a union in the mill. We see her evolution from the first to the last.

In Erin Brockovich, Erin does not evolve in any way. Because she is a single mother supporting three kids because her two husbands ran out on her, she thinks the world owes her favors. Wrong. She is obnoxious, rude and feels like she doesn't need to respect people (even her boss). She is just as determined as Norma Rae to nail PG&E, but her negative characteristics outweigh the positive ones.

Both great films to watch, though.

He won. Get over it.

[–] yajji 8 years ago

I guess both Erin and Norma are examples of how people respond to negativity and life's hard knocks. You either let your past make you bitter, or better. I think Erin had moments of preservation and warmth, and to be perfectly fair we only really see her in times of great stress (not having a job, not having a father figure for her kids, not having enough money to support her children, seeing small town lives effectively ruined by the big guys and having her work demeaned by people who unfairly took her at face value). Norma Rae was equally as fiery as Erin in the beginning, because people were also pigeonholing her as a woman without value or values. Erin's transition was less defined, but I'm sure the whole experience changed her. Erin had no filter, this was merely an engrained personality trait, Norma had poise even in hardship (even if it slipped on the odd occasion). That's where they are different.