Charactarization in Treasure of the Sierra Madre
In the case of many great films, the stable character that seems to “drive” the other characters is often not the most interesting or captivating one. The constant, driving character helps to highlight the changes that the dynamic character undergoes throughout the film. In The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), Dobbs and Howard are great examples of these contrasting roles. The three main characters in this film begin their journey rather scrupulously. As the wealth accumulates, the Howard-versus-Dobbs, good-versus-evil roles begin to develop. When Howard says early in the film, “I’ve seen what gold can do to a man’s soul,” it is implied that one or all of the characters will eventually neglect or abandon his principles in order to satisfy his lust for money. Howard makes his good intentions known from the beginning.