The musical, "Across the Universe" has many elements that shape it into the movie that it is. Among these elements are change, love, emotion, passion, art, music, and symbolism.
Change is a very important concept of "Across the Universe". Not only was there a change within society, but also a change among individuals. We see the characters change as the movie, and the turbulence of the 1960's progresses.
Jude, the film's main character, starts out in his small town of Liverpool with his mother, living a very simple life as a shipyard worker. He does have a girlfriend, but he still seems to be very bored and lonely because his life in Liverpool is all he really knows. However, by the end of the movie, Jude experienced true love and friendship. There was a spark that was ignited that was nonexistent when we first met him. His apathy towards the war quickly changes into a flurry of emotion and intensity. He starts to "fight for the cause" Jude's passion for art still remained, as well for his love for Lucy. Although the two faced struggles, their love for one another never died out. From the beginning of the movie, Jude set out for something more, and that quality never left him. He was constantly searching for answers throughout the movie.
Max, the quirky, crazy, best friend of Jude, is a character that I feel experienced the most change throughout the movie. He starts out as a careless goofball, considers dropping out of college, and lives strictly for fun and games. His parents urge him to take his life more seriously, and he responds saying a very remarkable quote "Why is is always about "What will you do?" Do, do, do, do, do. "What will you do, what will he do, oh my God, what will he do?!" Why isn't the issue here who I am?" Once Max becomes drafted into the war, we begin to sense a feeling of fear within him. Although he tries to hide it, it is still clear that he is afraid of going to Vietnam, because of his attempts to get out of the draft. Once Max...