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Originally Posted by Rileydog
Now that I have qualified my comments, can I participate in the discussion?
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You could always participate, I just didn't see the point if you hadn't finished the film. But, now that you've clarified . . .
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Originally Posted by Rileydog
Can anyone explain why he went sorta mad at the end? Was he just fed up with everyone? He did comment that he wanted a house and everyone to go away. Was it cause he was used to being alone and didnt have the patience for everyones BS?
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Plainview was always on the verge of madness, that was his personality. When he confesses to his imposter brother about the competition inside him, he's confessing the nature of his soul. And, as the oil business grew, so to did his paranoia and that maddening competition. Isolation relieves this.
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Originally Posted by Rileydog
I mean why did he turn so vicously on his son? Felt betrayed? Hated having to love a less then perfect person?
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Well, first off, H.W. wasn't his son. Plainview took the boy after his father was killed while drilling. H.W.'s purpose is a complex one for Daniel. On the one hand, the boy was a tool, a way to ingratiate Daniel to the common people (see his "I’m a family man" schpeal). On the other hand, there was a part of Daniel that wanted to trust and be trusted. This is why Daniel kills the imposter that claims to be his brother. To Daniel, there was no greater offense.
As for why Daniel treated H.W. the way he did after he was deafened, that's really a combination of factors. One, a deaf child was a time-consuming handful that would distract Daniel from his wells. Two, a deaf boy creates sympathy, which Daniel can't use to gain the trust of the people. And, three, there was something about the disability that scared Daniel and spoke to his insecurities.