English poverty

Thesis

The 2016 film Lion presents a compelling portrayal of the reawakening of identity through the journey of a young Indian boy striving to find his way back home

Contention

Ultimately ,  Davis concludes that poverty affects people’s lives and shapes the way they perceive and cope with the world:

Argument 1

 During their time in the orphanage, the children endure harsh treatment, each day deepening their longing to escape the cruelty that surrounds them.

evidence s1

Saroo meets a weary girl in the orphanage who warns him, “This is a very bad place,” before adding with quiet resignation that she’s “going to buy a watch,” a fragile hint at her own escape and the bleak reality they both face.

Explain s 1

The girl concludes that the orphanage is a bad place, and although many unfortunate children arrive hoping to be cared for, they instead fall into a trap of cruelty where neglect and abuse become their daily reality.

Evidence 2

S2) a child is shown banging his head against the wall, the eye‑angle artificial lighting emphasizing his fractured mental state and the psychological toll of life inside the orphanage

Explanation 2

The artificial lighting heightens the child’s sense of unease, while the eye‑level angle positions the audience directly within his perspective, allowing them to connect with his struggle and feel the emotional weight of his distress.

Evidene 3

Adding onto the previous a child  is beaten for behaviour driven by his deteriorating mental state, positions readers to recognise the injustice and cruelty of his treatment. The threat — “I’m going to give you a good beating”

Explain 3

exposes how those in power respond with violence rather than understanding, reinforcing his vulnerability and lack of safety

Argument 2

Poverty in Calcutta deeply affects Saroo during his journey, leaving him more vulnerable to danger and heightening the sense of constant risk that surrounds children living on the streets 

Evidence 1

Setting in calcutta   , The children in the distance positioned in low artificial lighting through a long shot, sitting in exhaustion, yearning for shelter.”

• The shot makes the children appear small → readers see them as powerless.

• The low lighting creates a bleak, unsafe atmosphere → readers feel concern.

• Their exhausted posture signals suffering → readers feel empathy.

• Their distance symbolises social abandonment → readers feel critical of the systems failing them.

Evidnce p2

Saroo becomes increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, shown when a man approaches him with the unsettling promise, “I want to take you to a really nice place,” a line that masks the threat of being sold or trafficked behind false kindness.

Explanation p 2

 Saroo’s unwavering destiny to find his brother leaves him emotionally driven and desperate, and his state of poverty makes him fall easily into traps set by adults who exploit vulnerable children.

P3)Due to being prone to danger , the children run away "

The children sprint beneath a birds‑eye angle, their small figures weaving through the maze of streets as old men pursue them to be sold.

The artificial lighting — harsh, uneven, and sickly — sharpens the unease, casting long shadows that swallow them as they run.

The shot drops to eye‑level, locking us into Saroo’s frantic perspective, syncing the audience with his fear and momentum.

Argument 3

As saroo gets older , snippets from childhood during his poverty state embeds in him eternally , influencing the way he perceives things  .

R1 Evidence

 Because he learned as a child to survive alone, adult Saroo hides his pain from his adoptive family, not wanting to trouble them.

Lucy makes Saroo’s fear obvious during dinner. She watches him struggle to speak and finally asks, “Why can’t you just tell them?” Her simple question exposes what he’s too scared to admit—that revealing his search might hurt Sue.