"I hate the Communists and have for many years and don't feel right about giving up my career to defend them. I will give up my film career if it is in the interests of defending something I believe in, but not this"
About this Quote
The quote by Elia Kazan reflects a moment of ideological and existential dispute for the renowned movie director. Kazan's words can be contextualized within the wider story of the Cold War in the United States, especially throughout the age of McCarthyism in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This duration was identified by intense scrutiny, paranoia, and persecution of people presumed of having Communist affiliations or compassions.
In stating, "I hate the Communists and have for many years", Kazan is making a conclusive and personal position against Communism. His use of the word "hate" suggests a deep-seated aversion, suggesting that his opposition to Communism is not just political but psychological. This stands as a clear recommendation of his longstanding ideological divide from Communism, separating himself from any sympathetic stories or associations.
When Kazan mentions not feeling "right about giving up his profession to defend them", he is confessing a reluctance to compromise his individual and professional pursuits for a cause he does not support or believe in. It underscores an internal conflict in between keeping his career in Hollywood and catching social pressures during that time, which typically required public figures decide either for or against Communist ideologies.
The notion of giving up his profession "in the interests of safeguarding something I think in" highlights his desire to compromise for principles he considers deserving. It suggests Kazan possesses an ethical compass directed by individual conviction rather than external ideology. This implies that his career choices are dictated by individual values instead of political pressure or social expectation.
In general, this quote exposes the elaborate balance Kazan looked for in between personal beliefs and public pressure, encapsulating the broader tension experienced by numerous during the McCarthy age. His declaration underscores the intricacy of preserving personal stability in the middle of prevalent paranoia and ideological department, highlighting the individual cost of political disputes in artistic and expert environments.
