Introduction
Psychologists believe that the sum total of a person’s characteristics could be summed up in just five traits of character evaluation cluster and this forms the crux of this essay. A character of a film needs to be taken and how this character grouping could be seen in terms of his character needs to be evaluated. The protagonist character whose personality assessment is sought to be taken up is that of Mahatma Gandhiji, born as Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi, father of the Indian nation, as portrayed by Sir Ben Kinsley in Sir Richard Attenborough’s epic Oscar winning film, Gandhi(1982). (Gandhi (1982), 2009).
Five traits of character evaluation cluster
The five character evaluation cluster that needs to be evaluated in the context of Gandhiji is that of extraversion/introversion, neuroticism, opening to experiences, conscientiousness and agreeableness.
Analysis of extraversion /introversion in the context of Gandhiji
In this film the protagonist has been portrayed as a very active and responsive person deeply committed to his cause and mission. Even during the time when he is left to himself he is busy weaving handloom garments in his home. A man of extremely sparse needs and demands, his main objective is the emancipation of his people. His extrovertish personality is seen in massive crowd support that he draws wherever he goes, his public meetings and personal charisma with which he became an acknowledged leader of the Indian masses, rich or poor, urban or rural, educated or illiterate. His social charisma could be akin to that of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela. He holds long drawn discussions and meetings with political leaders, heads of state and religious leaders for the common good of humanity and his people without really trying to impose his will and dictate on his followers.
Analysis of elements of neuroticism or otherwise in the context of Gandhiji
There are no negative elements in the personal characteristics of the protagonist, apart from the fact that he was guileless and disarmingly frank and open in his relations with people. Poverty, subjugation and internal strife had reduced the country to a weak and fragile nation, devoid of self determination. Moreover, at that time of history, the great Indian nation was polarized on caste and religious lines and it was left to the protagonist to unify his disintegrated forces to seek self-governance, which ultimately he was successful in doing, due to his tenacious spirit, dedication and sacrificing mentality. “…his efforts were to unite the country with his strange yet irresistible moral authority, an authority that all of the various factions recognized and respected as the authentic thing.” (Gandhi [VHS] (1982), 2009, Customer reviews, para.2).
Analysis of aspects of culture, or openness to experience in case of Gandhiji
In this film, the protagonist is seen as a man who, despite born and bred in a high class environment (he was a barrister by profession), reaches out to the poorest
of the poor and shares their sorrows and sufferings as though his own. He spent most of his time in rural India, trying to improve their socio-economic conditions; although a politician he was more a messiah, a chosen one for the landless and ignorant peasants, the untouchables, (he called them Harijans – children of God). One of the redeeming features of this character has been his openness to experiences and his determination to improve the condition of his people.
Aspect of conscientiousness in the character of Gandhiji
He is seen as an epitome of conscientiousness and devotion to his cause – the emancipation of his people from the yoke of dependence and the need to allow them to seek out their own futures. There is an instance in this film, when, in protest against taxes on common salt, he organizes a salt movement to draw forth salt from the sea to provide to his people, rather than to succumb to the avarice of salt traders and hoarders. He urges his people to make their own garments through home spun looms (Khadi). His people stood behind him and drew tremendous inspiration from his life and moral example.
Feature of agreeableness in the character of Gandhiji : The characteristics of the protagonist endears him to all. His faith in his people is unflinching. Although not in favour of dividing India along religious lines, he had to finally agree to it, due to political influences of Mohammed Jinnah, much against his wishes. His attributes of agreeableness is manifest from his desire to avoid communal bloodshed and his earnest wishes that all communities need to live in amity and brotherhood in this country.
Conclusions
From the psychosocial point of view it is seen that all the attributes that are found in human beings are also evident in the protagonist in this film, although these are more finely etched and vividly portrayed when compared to that of an ordinary person. Perhaps what is most endearing and appealing about this character is that his mild demeanor and frail stature housed a powerful psyche devoid of human failings and desires, perhaps obsessed in the peace and welfare of his masses, seeking out and eliminating through peaceful and non-violent methods, ahimsa, forces of evil and avarice, and most importantly winning the ultimate round of peace and independent settlement. But the epoch of this soldier of peace is ever enshrined in the minds and hearts of every Indian, or even, in a larger context, right thinking and freedom loving people of the world. The Gandhi saga lives on, as a source of perennial wisdom and moral values in the minds of people all over the world.