But at this point, even the answers given by his past run out. He is on his own now, and must operate by his own wits, finding the 10 million dollar answer in the present, with only what he observes here and now.
Which is a crafty and duplicitous and oedipally jealous host.
Aha! The answer is the exact opposite of his "free hint" - the gift of the new character trait of intuition or "shrewdness" in Jamal. As with Dumas' Edmund Dantes, it is the new growth of worldly wisdom through his travails that is harvested to give victory at this level of life's questions.
So many people in need of therapy unwittingly look to authorities to "parent us" - our teachers, employers, and even our governments - only to be let down again and again.
This is the Millionaire show host - the narcissistic authority who would use us to his advantage rather than be a true mentor, beneficiary or parental figure.
Just as on the game show, the questions of real life get more difficult as we go, with both the price, and the prize still higher - until we discover that life itself is a teacher, a parent, and mentor.
Finally, finally, the 20 million rupee question, the one which his past does not help (he did not show up that day of school for the Three Musketeers reading), and which he cannot even figure out with his present-minded wits: "Who is the third Muskeeter?"
He doesn't know, and has not a clue. But is willing to risk everything "just because," as a defiant statement of identity: "this is my risk, my life, and my answer..." (even if he has no certainty about the future result.)
There is a lesson for us all in this "just because" attitude; for as uncertain as the future will always be, we cannot fail if we do not betray our own identity, autonomy, freedom, and worth.
The "Destiny" of Character Has a Past, a Present and a Future Influence
Three phrases show Jamal pitted against the crooked show host, and mark his growth, just as one might find in psychotherapy:
- The Past: "Jamal, you are truly on your own now," says the Host.
"Yes I know, and I don't know the answer," replies the boy. - The Present: "Jamal, do you want to play? Or pay?" says the Host.
"I want to play. Yes, even though I don't know the answer," says the boy. - The Future: "Jamal, you are saying you could walk away with the money so far, yet don't know the answer, and are going to play anyway? WHY?" says the Host.
"Just because," the boy says. "The final answer is ‘a.' - just because. I am playing ‘a.' just because. The third Musketeer must be Aramis."
And as "destiny" would have it, this is the right answer.
I feel these three principles of the film:
- To have personal agency - to realize you are on your own and accept it, taking on the reins of personal accountability and responsibility.Where your past can work for you, and be healed.
- To "play," not " to pay" - to not sell out - to agree to play the game of life, to make a choice even though you sometimes do not know the answers on some of life's tough choices.To live in the present, empowered by its immediacy.
- To give one's self permission - to make choices "just because." ...to be willing to make choices anyway, even when you don't know what's the more certain future way to go, the safe way unknowable. For you to take a risk that feels right, even without the permission of friends, parents, or "authorities" like the show host.
...these are the keys to Jamal and Latika's success at finding love and wealth, through living life as a genuine adults, who've mined their own life lessons for the golden answers - even to the point they've run out of them.
To the person in therapy, you deal with a world of people once you leave the therapy office - some people who favor you, mentor you and wish you well, some who actively work against you, manipulate, deceive, take opportunity from you, or use you to their own ends, and still others who really don't care either way. But the benevolent force out there isn't the world itself.
It's how you treat yourself within that world that can be relied on, and even the therapist can't do that FOR you.
You, the Narrator of Your Life
No matter how down you've been, what horrors you've seen, how many failures you've had or risked and lost everything, how alone you have been or without love - that soulmate you have wanted all your life - just stand alone, play the game, make the choices, and know that your own past will rise up to give you today's answers. Inch by inch, the new character growth - a mature wisdom from life's experience will see you through in the future.
Therapy can speed the way. The rewards are everything you have ever wanted. Through your own choices this is how you will discover this kind of destiny, where "it is written."
Only, you'll find that you are actually the writer.
