Return to Paradise Essay

Return to Paradise Return to Paradise is a film that has a lot of meanings within the story line. But also has many ethical issues among the morals that are in today’s society. Three ethical issues in the film are capital punishment, drug use, and media treatment. Capital punishment is an ethical issue because it is highly opinionated. Some people believe that people shouldn’t have to die to pay for their crime, while others believe that death is the best way to pay for what they’ve done as a consequence. This makes an argument that if someone has killed another human, should they be killed too? It makes it hard in different countries as their laws may be different and death penalties can really occur and happen. Drug use is also an ethical issue because they believe they aren’t harming anyone and a majority of the drug users want illicit drugs to be legalised. A lot of today’s society argues that the drug users affect more than just themselves such us driving under the influence of drugs, can lead to other innocent people into serious injuries or death in a crash. Media treatment is another ethical issue in the film; this is because M.J Major wanted the story to get out so bad it was more important than Lewis’s life. This is an ethical issue because the media have the rights to tell the story to the public but in a bit to try save Lewis’s life instead of just telling the story. In the start of the film, Sheriff was completely an individual and his worldview was all about himself and what he wanted to do; what is best for him. Sheriff was also a pleasure seeker and really only cared for the wellbeing of himself. For example, when Tony, Sheriff and Lewis were riding a bike they borrowed and crashed it, Lewis wanted it to return it to the owner but sheriff didn’t want to get into trouble and threw the bike away. Also Sheriff left all the hash they had in a bin outside of the house where Lewis stayed and the cops found out about that and bike. When Sheriff found out that Lewis was in prison, he definitely didn’t want to go back, he thought about spending 3-6 years in prison for someone else and didn’t want it. Sheriff then fell in love with Beth. After he found out that Beth was Lewis’s sister, he realised what he wanted and knew his mistakes, with this his worldview changed. In court he confessed to all the crimes that had been put on Lewis, taking responsibility for his actions really was a change of person. Sheriff had  developed a humanistic world view and also a Christian view on life. He believed at the end that every life was worth just as much as his own, and that everyone deserves to live and have the same rights. Throughout the film in the plot and themes, the film promotes and encourages Christian values and ethics. The film shows and promotes these values and ethics through the character of Sheriff. At the start of the movie, Sheriff was a selfish and individual person, but towards the end of the movie he became a loving and caring person, thinking of others and not about himself. It is a noticeable change when he just starts thinking of others. To show the Christian values, they promote them through Sheriff about helping and thinking of others, compassion and that everyone’s life is worth as much as your own. This is also shown when Sheriff stops thinking of the wellbeing of himself and really tries to help Lewis. Sheriff was willing to give up a bit of his life to save Lewis’s life. Sheriff shows human value by going back to Malaysia and not leaving with Tony, he also fell in love and Beth became a big part in showing him the right way. Just before Lewis died Sheriff was showing great compassion to Lewis making sure he knew he wasn’t alone and everyone was there for him.