There Will Be Blood (2007) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story unfolds across multiple locations in the American West, beginning in the harsh desert of New Mexico where oil is first discovered. It then moves to Los Angeles during its early growth period, and finally centers on Little Boston, California, a small town concealing oil wealth beneath its surface. These settings reflect the relentless pursuit of natural resources that drives the narrative.

• new mexico
• los angeles
• little boston
• california
• oil town
• setting

The film spans from 1898 to 1927, covering the late 19th century through the late 1920s. This period coincides with the American Industrial Revolution and the oil boom, when rapid economic growth and territorial expansion defined the era. The time frame allows the story to explore the moral struggles and social tensions emerging during America's pursuit of industrial wealth.

• 1920s
• 1898
• 1927
• time period
• oil boom
• industrial revolution

Greed serves as the movie's driving force, propelling Daniel Plainview's relentless quest for wealth and power. His obsession leads to manipulation, betrayal, and ultimately violence, illustrating how ambition can corrupt relationships and moral integrity. The narrative demonstrates that greed leaves devastation in its wake, destroying everything meaningful in pursuit of black gold.

• greed
• ambition
• wealth
• corruption
• oilman

Daniel's single-minded pursuit of wealth gradually alienates him from his family and community. Despite accumulating immense riches, he becomes increasingly reclusive, consumed by his own demons. His estrangement from adopted son H.W. symbolizes the profound emotional cost of unchecked ambition, revealing the emptiness that material success cannot fill.

• isolation
• alienation
• family
• daniel plainview
• loneliness

Daniel Plainview is the film's protagonist, an ambitious and ruthless oilman whose quest for wealth defines his entire existence. Portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, he evolves from a hardworking prospector into a manipulative and violent figure as he navigates the dangerous world of oil drilling. His longing for legacy conflicts with his growing isolation and internal turmoil.

• daniel plainview
• protagonist
• oilman
• day-lewis

H.W. is Daniel Plainview's adopted son, representing innocence entangled with his father's ruthless ambition. Throughout the narrative, H.W. struggles with the complexities of their relationship as Daniel's cruelty and ambition become increasingly apparent. As he matures, H.W. seeks independence and ultimately rejects his father's legacy, symbolizing the human cost of Daniel's choices.

• h.w.
• adopted son
• daniel plainview
• family

Eli Sunday is a charismatic local preacher who becomes Daniel's primary rival, embodying the clash between faith and commerce. His religious facade hides ambitious and resentful motives, particularly his anger at Daniel's refusal to align with his church. Their contentious relationship escalates to violent confrontation, representing the broader conflict between religion and capitalist greed.

• eli sunday
• preacher
• pastor
• religion
• rivalry

The conflict between Daniel Plainview and Eli Sunday represents the intersection of faith and greed in small-town America. Eli, as a preacher, initially holds moral authority in Little Boston, but Daniel's refusal to contribute to the church creates rivalry. Their relationship oscillates between cooperation and antagonism, culminating in violent encounters that expose the hollowness of both religious and capitalist pursuits.

• conflict
• eli sunday
• church
• oil
• rivalry
• violence

Oil serves as both the literal and metaphorical engine of the narrative, representing unchecked industrial ambition and its corrosive effects. The discovery of oil triggers Daniel's transformation from prospector to magnate, but also fuels his moral decay. The film uses the oil industry to explore how the relentless pursuit of natural resources can destroy families, communities, and humanity itself.

• oil
• black gold
• industry
• ambition
• resource extraction

The movie presents ambition as a destructive force that consumes everything in its path. Daniel Plainview's relentless drive for wealth and legacy systematically destroys his relationships, his humanity, and his capacity for connection. The narrative suggests that unchecked ambition leads to isolation and moral bankruptcy, leaving only emptiness despite material success.

• ambition
• legacy
• destruction
• pursuit
• success