At the end of On the Waterfront, Terry Malloy, a former boxer, confronts the corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly and ultimately inspires his fellow longshoremen to defy the mob's control, reclaiming their dignity and control over their lives on the docks.
The Aftermath of Testimony
Following his powerful testimony against Johnny Friendly and the mob, Terry Malloy faces severe social and professional consequences. He finds himself completely ostracized by his fellow dockworkers; during lunch breaks, he is shunned and left to eat alone, and he is explicitly told that he will no longer be given work on the docks. This isolation and professional blacklisting highlight the immense personal cost of his decision to speak out against the powerful syndicate.
A Definitive Stand
Despite the immediate repercussions and the personal toll, Terry refuses to back down. In the film's climactic sequence, he appears at the dock, ready to work. However, Friendly's men attempt to bar him and the other longshoremen from starting their shift. This leads to a brutal physical confrontation between Terry and Johnny Friendly. Although Terry is severely beaten by Friendly and his thugs, he courageously forces himself to his feet.
Inspiration and Victory
Terry then begins a slow, painful walk toward the pier's hiring boss, Deke, symbolizing his unwavering determination to work and his refusal to be intimidated. Initially, the other longshoremen hesitate, unsure whether to follow him and risk the mob's wrath. However, witnessing Terry's incredible resolve and self-sacrifice, they are finally galvanized. One by one, they turn their backs on Johnny Friendly and begin to follow Terry. This collective act of defiance breaks Friendly's hold. The hiring boss, seeing the longshoremen united behind Terry, is forced to open the gate and allow them to work. Johnny Friendly, now defeated and humiliated, is left alone and powerless on the dock, his reign of terror effectively ended.
Terry Malloy's final, painful walk to work, followed by the longshoremen, signifies a profound victory for the workers, marking a shift from fear and oppression to unity and hope on the waterfront.
