From Janitor to Math Prodigy
To most people, Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is just a janitor. What people do not know is that he is a math prodigy. Goffman's Dramaturgical Approach comes into play here. Goffman"s front versus back stage idea especially useful. The front stage is where one's actions can be observed by an audience. In his front stage, Will is a janitor at MIT who lives in a poor neighborhood in South Boston. He looks like he will not amount to anything or have a satisfying life. Little people know in Will's back stage, he rents college textbooks from the local library to read and study. According to Goffman, "the back stage is where the performer can reliably expect that no member of the audience will intrude." As seen in Figure 2-2, Will is able to solve difficult, complex math equations with the help of self-education.
Expanding the Confidence
Throughout the whole movie Will is trying to find out who he is and what he can become if he takes the right steps. Will is sent to therapy with Sean Maguire (Oscar-winning role for Robin Williams). This can relate to Aron and Aron's Self-Expansion Theory, "Self-expansion theory helps explain how identity influences the development of close relationships after first impressions are made."
At first, Will did not think he needed the therapy, but he eventually wanted to go for the conversations he has with Sean. He liked having someone to talk to, even if it was not about his past experiences. Both Will and Sean were committed to the therapy sessions because they both want to expand who they are. Will had past experiences that he does not want to define who he will become. Sean's first wife past away years ago and Sean wants to move on with a happy life. Finally, the relationship of Will and Sean was beneficial for both of them. At the end of the movie, Will gets back together with his girlfriend, Skylar (Minnie Driver), and Sean was going to travel where he and his wife wanted to go when they retired.
At first, Will did not think he needed the therapy, but he eventually wanted to go for the conversations he has with Sean. He liked having someone to talk to, even if it was not about his past experiences. Both Will and Sean were committed to the therapy sessions because they both want to expand who they are. Will had past experiences that he does not want to define who he will become. Sean's first wife past away years ago and Sean wants to move on with a happy life. Finally, the relationship of Will and Sean was beneficial for both of them. At the end of the movie, Will gets back together with his girlfriend, Skylar (Minnie Driver), and Sean was going to travel where he and his wife wanted to go when they retired.
*For more information, see the "notes" page