That's right, this movie is not for the faint of heart
Set in the early 1900’s, There Will Be Blood tells the story of Daniel Plainview, an oil prospector who strikes it big. The story is loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s Oil, which is based on real oilman Edward L. Doheny, but this isn’t a biography. Daniel Plainview’s history is mysterious and, as the story progresses, he becomes first antisocial, then unstable and dangerous.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s characters are usually multifaceted, but their motivations are clear. With Plainview, though, the movie doesn’t state explicitly why his behavior deteriorates even as he grows more successful. When I first watched it, I just assumed the character was crazy. I re-watched it with my son and we came up with two explanations.
One, he’s a metaphor for American capitalism. Oil was the defining business of early twentieth century America. Standard Oil came into being and was broken up during the same time period as this story. Daniel’s pursuit of ever-bigger wells and his competitive, not entirely wholesome, business practices help him get them.
As metaphor, Daniel’s conflict with the preacher Eli Sunday can be read as business attacking religious and community institutions. Religion isn’t portrayed positively here, as Sunday is also attempting to control the town and take advantage of the oil money. Their power struggle is a subtle one, beginning with a quiet battle over the blessing of the new well. Daniel’s murder of Eli can be seen as capitalism’s destruction of religious influence. Or more cynically, as the movie depicts, that both business and religion were vying for control and business won out.
Continuing the metaphor, there’s an impact to family. Plainview’s adopted son, HW, is struck deaf from Plainview’s work. The conflict over the well splits the Sunday family. If Plainview is capitalism, the movie appears to be making a negative statement about its impact on family.
Kudos to wardrobe, hair, and makeup for this resemblance
The second interpretation of Plainview is more literal: we are seeing a man self-destruct. The movie gives us clues that Daniel’s descent comes from a desire for, and then the loss of, a family.
Daniel incidentally adopts HW as a child, almost more from an unwillingness to abandon him than from parenting instinct. As baby HW grows, he seems to become a setpiece for Daniel’s sales pitch (“I’m a family man”). We don’t see a lot of parental affection from Daniel at first and are led to believe that he keeps HW only due to the boy’s utility. But there are multiple indications that HW means more to Daniel:
- The movie contrasts Daniel’s reaction to the death of a worker to HW’s injury. When the well exploded, Daniel moved quickly to rescue HW and get him to safety.
- After the accident, Daniel holds HW and says, “I love you, I love you my boy. It’s alright. Listen to me if you can: you’ll be fine.” (This is in the script, not sure if this is in the movie.)
- Daniel attempts to find HW a teacher.
- Daniel is frustrated when he cannot communicate with HW.
- After HW’s accident, Daniel displays his first unhinged behavior. When Eli comes to ask for the money Daniel promised the church, Daniel begins to hit him and drags him through a pool of oil.
- Despite a cold-hearted send-off, Daniel is concerned about HW’s welfare and comfort at the school he is sent to.
- The character of Henry gives us a clue that Daniel escaped an unpleasant childhood, and that it’s related to his father. HW seems to represent an opportunity to be a better father.
- Daniel murders Henry after discovering that Henry was lying. One reason for the violent reaction could be that he sent HW away for trying to set Henry on fire. The murder may have been a reaction of shame. Shortly after killing Henry, Daniel brings HW home from the school (and accepts a punch in the face from the boy).
- Daniel was about to make a deal that would have made him a 1911 millionaire. The representative from Standard Oil suggested Daniel could use the money to spend time with his son. This triggers such a strong response from Daniel that he abandons the deal. He later verbally abuses the representative in public.
All of these seem to indicate a deep connection to HW. Further, Daniel begins to deteriorate right after the accident, and he continues to worsen as it becomes clear that HW’s deafness creates a barrier to their communication. The barrier is demonstrated by contrast, as HW increasingly communicates with his teacher by sign language.
More broadly, Daniel is a man bereft of family and emotional connection in general. Maybe to his own surprise, HW had become that connection. Henry appeared to be a similar connection. This might be the other reason for Daniel’s murderous rage at Henry’s deceit.
