A wise person once pinned, "If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."
There'd also be no movies. One of the most satisfying things about sitting down to watch a film is seeing people change for the better. Marlin may start out as an overprotective parent and Nemo might hate his dad's worrying ways, but, by the end of the film, this father and son have really come around. They've realized that they do love each other, but that love means letting go, too.
That's some pretty powerful transformation in under two hours. If only real life change were so simple.
Questions about Transformation
- What does Nemo learn about his dad during the movie? What does Marlin figure out about his son?
- Which character do you think changes the most? Which characters stay the same?
- Is change always a good thing? Can people sometimes change for the worse? Or do most people tend to get better as life goes on?
Chew on This
Marlin's biggest hurdle is learning to trust other fish. Once he gets that down, the transformation to becoming a way better dad is well on its way.
By the end of the story, Marlin and Nemo's relationship has evolved into a healthier father and son dynamic—they love each other, but aren't so totally co-dependent.