The Walking Dead Analysis Essay Example

effort to help Rick.

Despite the slim chance of survival, he chose to barricade his hospital room door with a bed to protect himself from the Zombies. Meanwhile, Shane and Lori establish themselves at the refugee camp, both emotionally and physically with each other. The show depicts an explicit sexual encounter between them, where Lori expresses regret as she removes her wedding ring but continues nonetheless. Shane takes care of Lori and Carl as if they were his own family, and neither Lori nor Carl seem bothered by it. However, Rick's arrival at the camp changes things in the relationship between Lori and Shane. She makes it clear to him that his help is no longer needed now that Rick is there. In a challenging situation with the world falling apart around her, Lori realizes that she must rely on Rick as their family's provider and her son's father.

Over time, Shane and Lori gradually have uncomfortable and tense private conversations, driven either by love or instinct, that Rick remains unaware of. In the season finale, this culminates in a distressing incident where Shane makes a sexual advance on Lori without her consent. While initially compliant, she quickly realizes her mistake and becomes shocked. She pushes him away and he subsequently departs from the area.

Lori's emotions towards Shane are strong, but she struggles to handle them because of the group dynamics and her son's situation. The zombie scare caused their relationship to deteriorate, yet their mutual feelings compelled them to keep communicating and interacting despite Lori's dislike for the awkwardness. In a world without apocalyptic conditions, she could potentially leave Rick for Shane if her love for

him proved stronger. Nevertheless, under the present circumstances, making such a choice would be exceedingly difficult.

Upon their initial introduction, it becomes evident that Andrea and Amy are not very familiar with each other and there exists some tension between them. The original purpose of Andrea was to accompany Amy back to college before the Apocalypse occurred. This trip was meant to facilitate bonding between them, indicating a lack of a strong pre-existing relationship. Typically, bonding occurs among individuals who already share a connection, serving to enhance and intensify their relationship.

The situation they face with the Zombies is what brings them closer together than ever before, surpassing even the bond formed during a car ride. The pivotal moment occurs when they are fishing on a boat in the middle of a lake, where they not only deepen their understanding of their own relationship, but also their individual connections with their father. Following this powerful bonding experience, their dynamics fundamentally change, leading to a much closer relationship from then onwards. Unfortunately, the Zombies cruelly interrupt this newfound unity when Amy gets bitten and killed by a walker. Andrea is left shocked and traumatized by this tragic event and chooses to remain by Amy's side for an extended period.

Amy transforms into a walker and Andrea tearfully expresses regret for not supporting her earlier. In a poignant moment, Andrea ends Amy's life with a bullet to her head. This act highlights the deep bond they developed during their experiences together. Similarly, Rick and Lori's relationship seems to deteriorate amidst the Apocalypse. Initially, there is delight and gratitude upon learning of Rick's survival. However, as the season progresses, a disconnect

emerges between Rick and Lori.

The only physical scene shown involving Rick and Lori is when Rick returns to their tent and joins Lori in bed. However, there is no sexual activity portrayed, and Lori appears uneasy. There could be various reasons for this disconnect, including pre-Apocalypse issues faced by the couple, Lori feeling guilty about her relationship with Shane, conflicting emotions about her feelings for both men, and Rick's decision-making behavior, such as leaving to search for the Dixon brother instead of staying to protect Lori and Carl.

Lori and Shane's relationship can be interpreted as animistic, while Lori and Rick's relationship can be seen as more humanistic and grounded in reality. However, their reality has been shattered, leaving them caught in a limbo between reality and chaos. Since Rick is unaware of her affair with Shane, it becomes impossible for their relationship to progress with such a significant secret between them. This ultimately leads to the gradual destruction of their relationship.

Despite Rick's efforts to lead the group to safety, he is unable to find the time to reconcile with his wife. Shane takes advantage of this situation by providing a rational approach to protecting Lori and Carl. It is not Rick's fault, as he is fulfilling his responsibilities as a group leader. However, this situation exacerbates unresolved issues between Rick and Lori. Lori is torn between societal norms, family connections, and her own instincts, making it unclear which side she truly favors.

According to Rick Bentley of Canada.com, the characters in the show exhibit behaviors that support his intriguing observation. Bentley argues that although the show is often labeled as a "monster movie," it offers

more than just that. The characters' main focus revolves around their own survival, staying alive, and ensuring the Zombies do not resurrect.

Survival is crucial, but individuals aren't paying attention to how the situation is altering their identities and emotions. Bentley believes that the series primarily focuses on how people transform when confronted with the constant struggle for survival. If Lori could examine her personal growth during the ordeal instead of clinging to her pre-apocalyptic beliefs, tensions with Rick/Shane might decrease and problems could be resolved more easily.

Had Andrea been able to fully immerse herself in the moment and acknowledge how the traumatic experience was impacting her relationship with Amy, she might have apologized to her prior to Amy's passing. While it is understandable for the characters to prioritize their survival instincts, it may have been more manageable if they also recognized and comprehended their inner thoughts and emotions. Love, though eternal, resilient, and all-encompassing, does possess its limits.

Love, ideally, should be independent of circumstances. However, it often proves to be influenced by external factors. Despite one's earnest affection, environmental and societal influences can detrimentally impact the capacity to love and care for another individual. Similarly, a person deeply in love may unexpectedly exhibit hurtful actions, as love has the potential to transform into an unforeseen and undesired state.

It seems likely that Lori has strong feelings of love and concern for Rick, but the recent events have made her unsure about whether Shane may be a better match for her. The fact that Shane was Rick's best friend and former police partner shows that he values Rick, but his love for Lori and Carl led him

to almost shoot Rick in the head during a search for walkers. This is despite his initial efforts to save Rick at the hospital and when he got shot in the first episode.

His desire to regain his position as the top priority for Lori, disregarding his friendship, was fueled by his hormones and masculinity. The fear and chaos caused by the Zombies resulted in a collaborative effort to mend relationships. However, this ultimately resulted in long-lasting consequences that impacted the relationships once again, influenced by external circumstances and altered emotions. (Bentley, Rick. "More to Walking Dead than Zombies." Canada.com. 10 Feb. 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2012.)