The Feeling of Routine and Boredom in Groundhog Day

Phil, is sarcastic and detached from the world around him in the movie Groundhog Day. He mocks about anything that might be remotely obscure, sincere or genuine. He’s not compassionate towards others. His self-absorbed ego carries him throughout different scenes in the movie, along with playing the role as God in the diner with Rita. Phil is portrayed as being very self-centered and constantly thinking of himself above everyone else. Not carrying about how his action, or words are affecting people’s emotions, and how he is being perceived among his co-workers at the news station. His latest assignment to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania brings the movie to the climax, as Phil becomes bored with his life and is placed in a time warp that eventually changes Phil’s moral virtues.

Phil becomes bored with his job as a weatherman because, he has greater desires and ambitions in life. He’s tired of being labeled as just “the weatherman.” He despises people who always are asking him the same question over and over again, “What will the weather be like today, Phil?” Phil wants to move higher up the ladder at work and make a name for himself. Eventually, boredom takes over Phil’s life to live another day. He makes several attempts of suicide. First, he walks downstairs in his pajamas at the bed and breakfast he is staying at.

Phil takes the four slice toaster off the buffet and walks back upstairs to the bathroom, then he plugs the toaster into the wall. He tries electrocuting himself in the bathtub with no success. Secondly, he tries to jump in front of a truck, driving off the cliff in the car, then tries jumping off a tall tower that is overlooking the city of Punxsutawney. The final suicide scene, has Phil dead laying in the mortuary when Rita and Ned walks in to identify his body. Phil probably could relate to Aristotle quote “He who cannot see the truth for himself, nor, hearing it from others, store it away in his mind, that man is utterly useless.” (Aristotle, p. 8) Life brings us joys and sorrows. There are days we all wish we could relive over in our lifetime. On our worst days, we desire they never had happened let alone to repeat living through a second time. Who would want to relive each day over and over? Not even 8 years, 8 months, 16 weeks and hours of agony.

As Phil showed boredom with his life and repeating the same day over and over again. Another example would be a life of my grandfather having cancer. Traveling to Iowa City for his weekly treatments can become boring. Arriving at the same time each day. Sitting in same chair. Seeing the same staff and other cancer patients, as you sit there getting your same chemo treatments. Your life becomes repetitive and very boring with days of little hope of any changes as Phil encountered in Groundhog Day. (B) Virtue, by definition, is the moral excellence of a human being. Having good character values along with showing honesty, respectful, and kindness towards others. The Bible teaches us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.