What would it take to make Jim question or re-evaluate his core values and beliefs? Would he ever sway from something he firmly believed in or do something that went against his morals if the reward was high enough?
Ho ho, bringin’ out the big guns here, aren’t ya, man?I love it. Alright, for Jim to re-avaluate core values…
Here’s the thing:Jim doesn’t seem to like change very much.
Examples being right from the beginning of movie, when he’s up on the rooftop, listenin’ in on Doppler and Sarah discussing his behaviour. Listenin’ in on this, on your mother complainin’ about the person you’ve become, you’d klnow there was something wrong. Jim knows he needs to change. Something about the situation h’s currently stuck in needs to change, and it’s him.
But he doesn’t wanna change, and this is shown through his recurring bad habits. His wants come before his needs, much like any other teenager.
If you pay attention to his dialogue, there are three lines that I personally believe show the transition of his character:
Right at the beginning of the movie, when he’s stuck in the Benbow Inn after the cops bring him back:
"Yeah, what future?" in response to his mother’s voicing concern for his future.
After the “I’m Still Here” montage, when Silver’s gained Jim’s trust:
Jim: But I’m gonna change all that.
Silver: Are you now? How so?
Jim: Uh, I got some plans. Gonna make people see me a little different.
And finally, at the tear jerking end, man:
Silver: … You and me, Hawkins and Silver, full of ourselves, and no ties to anyone!
Jim: You know, when I got on this boat, I would’ve taken you up on that offer in a second. But, uh, I met this old cyborg, and he taught me that I could chart my own course.
His lack of self-worth and ambition did change, but over a period of time, and one that put him in very intense situations.
Jim’s a stubborn kid, and that makes it hard for him to see both sides; and if he does see both sides, he refuses to accept the other. His lack of social skills also kinda leaves him blind sided, because he doesn’t trust the opinions of other easily, either.
As for swaying from something he believed in, in exchange for rewards.
I think he would, granted the act of violating his morals was worth the reward.
Obviously, he wouldn’t jump into it, the kid’s pretty smart, and he might even find a way of gettin’ his reward without cheatin’ on his morals, but it would depend on the severity.
Well, we saw what had happened between him and Scroop. When it came down to it, to preserve his own life, he did send Scroop to his death; it’s a little complicated, that scene, because there could’ve been a surpluss of reasons. The obvious one of preventing his own death, retribution for Captain Arrow, etc. But Jim killed Scroop.
So, in a pre-movie setting, if Jim were to assume the reward was enough to wipe his conscience clean, he’d go for it.
