Daniel Plainview’s relationship
with people is much different from what you would see with others. His need of
a relationship is orientated around the idea of business and personal gain. Although
Daniel loves his son H.W. despite not being his own, he still also sees him as
a valuable asset to his business. H.W. is Daniel’s ‘cute face’ and leverage in
business. He helps him secure transactions while also training him to
eventually take over the business that Daniel has worked so hard to build.
However, when we see the first oil pump burst and hurt H.W., Daniel rushes to
his aid immediately. H.W. loss of hearing becomes a problem for Daniel soon and
he gets sent of on a train because he no longer provides Daniel with an outlet
for his personal and business concerns. H.W. gets treated like a tool being
sent off to be repaired while Daniel seeks a replacement. Even towards the end
of the film, Daniel still sees H.W. as a business partner and not much of a
son. Every decision that Daniel makes has been for personal gain. He doesn’t worry
over the effects it might have on other people which is the biggest thing
Daniel lacks. When H.W. tells Daniel of his plans to start his own business, he
feels a sense of betrayal both as a father and as a colleague. Those two
shouldn’t have been put together in their relationship. Perhaps things could
have turned out much more differently if Daniel kept H.W. as only his son and
another person as his partner in business.
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