Cherrybomb - Luke
Luke (played by Robert Sheehan) is one of the major characters in the 2009 Drama/Thriller 'Cherrybomb'.
The first shot we see of Luke, he is smoking in his room. This shot depicts him as quite a laid back person with little to no responsibility. However as the film progresses we discover that Luke has a lot of responsibility as he is the primary carer of his drug-addicted father.
One of the first things you notice about Luke's personality is his childish behaviour. In this scene (below) we see Luke and Malachy talking about Michelle, whom they have just met and both fancy, and Luke says that he gets to go out with her instead of Mal because he "baggsied her".
His immaturity can also be shown at the end of the clip when Malachy's mother goes into Mal's room to give him his results. When Malachy's mother hugs Mal, Luke becomes slightly agitated and tells him that he 'hasn't got all day'. This reaction suggests that Luke is jealous of what Mal has, which is, a loving and caring family. As we find out later on in the film, Luke lives with his Dad in a house rented from his brother. Luke has to take care of his father and try to keep him off the drugs whilst his brother doesn't care for him either as he only seems to see Luke as part of his workforce.
His immaturity can also be shown at the end of the clip when Malachy's mother goes into Mal's room to give him his results. When Malachy's mother hugs Mal, Luke becomes slightly agitated and tells him that he 'hasn't got all day'. This reaction suggests that Luke is jealous of what Mal has, which is, a loving and caring family. As we find out later on in the film, Luke lives with his Dad in a house rented from his brother. Luke has to take care of his father and try to keep him off the drugs whilst his brother doesn't care for him either as he only seems to see Luke as part of his workforce.
As well as the immature comments, Luke also pulls immature stunts to gain the attentions of Michelle, for example, when Michelle, Mal and Luke go to the club, Luke joins in a fight between his Dad and the bouncers to show off in front of Michelle.
All of this put together would suggest that Luke acts out and craves attention because he isn't loved enough and hasn't been looked after properly. Therefore he has two ways of coping with his situation; to give up and become a gibbering wreck or pretend to be normal which makes him appear over confident and cocky to hide his vulnerability.
In terms of Character theory analysis, Luke is a prime example of 'The Trickster' in Campbell, Fletcher and Greenhill's Character theory as he behaves comically whilst actually having many complex problems.
I would also venture to suggest that Luke behaves in an aggressive manner and has violent outbursts because he is angry with his situation in life: no mother, has to care for a drug addicted father and his brother treats him as a worker.
His aggressive outbursts early on in the film foreshadow his attack on Michelle's father at the end when he is trying to defend Mal.
Morals and ethics
In terms of morality it is hard to tell how moral Luke is. When he hits Michelle's father, who is punching Mal to death, over the head with a pipe the first hit is to save his friend from death which is morally good. However when Michelle's dad stands up afterwards he is unarmed and does not look as though he is going to hit either Mal or Luke but Luke hits him with the pipe again.
In terms of morality it is hard to tell how moral Luke is. When he hits Michelle's father, who is punching Mal to death, over the head with a pipe the first hit is to save his friend from death which is morally good. However when Michelle's dad stands up afterwards he is unarmed and does not look as though he is going to hit either Mal or Luke but Luke hits him with the pipe again.
It would be difficult to say that the second hit is self defence, or in the defence of his friend, therefore it would appear that Luke got a thrill from the first hit; which would mean that he is morally unstable.
After he realises what he's done he then tries to convince Mal that they have to run away, which reinforces his childish nature as he's trying to run away from his problems.
In the scene when Mal borrows his Dad's taxi and the trio go for a joyride, Luke becomes jealous of Mal as Michelle seems to prefer him and so to try to impress Michelle, Luke grabs the steering wheel and crashes the car. Afterwards he appears to show no remorse for his actions which would suggest a low sense of morality.
Given his generally childlike nature, it could be suggested that Luke is stuck in Stage Two of Kohlberg's stages of moral developement as every action seems to be self-interest driven.
Given his generally childlike nature, it could be suggested that Luke is stuck in Stage Two of Kohlberg's stages of moral developement as every action seems to be self-interest driven.
Key Characteristics Presneted in the film
Childish
Vulnerable
Arrogant
Risk Taker
Violent
Unloved
Jealous
Careless
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