SUBTEXT: Sins of Omission in “On the Waterfront” (1954) (Part 1) | The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast | A Philosophy Podcast and Blog (opens in new tab)

Terry Malloy and his fellow longshoremen on the New York docks are witnesses to union corruption under labor boss Johnny Friendly, but won’t testify against him because of his violent intimidation tactics, which ensure that union members remain “D and D”—that is, deaf and dumb—to any illegal activity. When Terry’s collaboration with Friendly results in the death of his friend Joey Doyle, and when Terry subsequently falls in love with Joey’s sister, Edie, he’s forced to reckon with this D and ...