Perseverance. Determination. Ambition. Chutzpah.
Call it what you want, but the characters in Million Dollar Baby are full of more drive than a Ferrari dealership. Maggie's pursuit of her boxing dreams is relentless; her determination to die with dignity is equally uncompromising. Frankie's resolved to keep reaching out to his estranged daughter, even if it means building another closet to hold all of his letters that return unopened. Scrap's unwavering in his preservation of the Hit Pit, and Danger won't stop until he dethrones retired champion Tommy "The Hit Man" Hearns.
...okay, so maybe some goals in Million Dollar Baby are better than others. Still, the will to keep on keepin' on is central to the film.
Questions about Perseverance
- Are perseverance and stubbornness the same thing? Use examples from the movie to back up your claim.
- Would Maggie have found a way to end her life even if Frankie didn't help her?
- Why do you think Frankie writes to his daughter every week?
- Does Danger really think he has a shot to become the champion of the whole world?
Chew on This
Maggie's upbringing is the fire that fuels her determination to be a boxing champ.
Dying is Maggie's ultimate display of perseverance.