Clyde Shelton Character Analysis in Law Abiding Citizen (Movie Analysis)

In a stereotypical film plot, the audience knows whom to root for. A protagonist emerges to battle or confront a conflict of some sort to defeat the antagonist. In F. Gary Gray’s 2009 film Law Abiding Citizen, however, viewers experience a transition of the mysterious main character Clyde Shelton from protagonist to antagonist. Because of effective characterization through external action, dialogue, dramatic foils, and reactions of other characters, Clyde Shelton shifts from a forlorn family man to a violent vigilante. Through this transition of character within Shelton from the use of these techniques, the audience progresses on a journey from a feeling of sympathy to resentment of him. 

The external action of Clyde Shelton plays a large role in what shapes his character transition and later wicked motives. The brutal murder of his wife and daughter while the murderers restrained him in the beginning of the film paints Shelton out to be a tragedy-ridden protagonist with a hunger to seek justice. When the court system does not provide justice, Clyde takes matters into his own hands by taking the lives of the two men responsible. He also decides to exact revenge upon anyone involved in the court case. In an interview with Scott Beggs, actor and producer Gerard Butler clarifies his choices with this character by stating, “He so believes in what he’s doing now that this sociopathic element has developed in him over time. Perhaps there was a hint of it there as it lies dormant, and I think it exists in a lot of people that would have psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies. They don’t always come out. Perhaps it has to be triggered by an event.” Butler’s words show these external actions were central to the transition within Clyde Shelton. 

Key pieces of dialogue also made evident Shelton’s transition. “Can’t fight fate,” is one example of such dialogue. Several characters wrote or said these words in the film, making them a significant motif. Clarence Darby, the murderer of Shelton’s wife and daughter, first mentions this phrase as he determines their fate of death, and he repeats these words while thanking attorney Nick Rice for his shortened sentence. Shelton then etches these words on the canister used to taint the capital punishment of Ames, Darby’s accomplice. This indicates the distinctive change in Shelton’s character. Upon dismembering Darby, Shelton taunts him with these very words, further exemplifying Shelton’s change. “It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove in court,” is another pivotal phrase used in the film that contributes to Shelton’s shift. In the beginning, Nick Rice spoke these words to describe the inadequacies of the courtroom to a distraught Shelton, and he later repeats this phrase back to Rice in a sarcastic manner as he refuses to give a direct confession of his crimes. His use of this phrase in such a heinous fashion again contributes to the detestable character that he becomes. 

According to one critic, “[Clyde Shelton] actually is a secret weapon – no, better than that, he is a ‘Brain,’ whom U.S. spy agencies employ to kill people anywhere around the globe in a ghostlike fashion . . . Well, he’s going after anybody connected with the decade-old case” (Honeycutt). When two attorneys are discussing Shelton’s violent actions with one of his former associates, they too use the label “brain” to describe him. On a deeper level, “brain” correlates with psychopaths and psychopathic tendencies, as those who suffer from this condition have slight functional and structural discrepancies in comparison to the normal human brain (Psychopaths’). Another pair of critics even term Shelton’s intelligence to be “superior”, which enabled him to carry out the murders that he did despite being behind bars (Massie and Massie). This shows that while he may be psychopathic, he still thinks clearly enough to execute these complex murders. These deeds that Clyde Shelton carries out again correspond to the further transitioning of his character from the loving father and husband that he had once been. 

Dramatic foils between Clyde Shelton and Nick Rice play a pivotal role in Shelton’s character shift, as well. In the beginning of the film, Nick Rice is seemingly evil because of his implicit drive to maintain his high conviction rate by any means possible. Because of this, he strikes the deal with Darby that keeps this conviction rate high, although it puts Darby, the true killer, in prison for only a few years, making this a convenient decision rather than a moral decision, which would have been fighting for true justice for Shelton and his late family. This choice initiates the shift in Clyde’s character to one of vile nature. Another example contributing to this foil addresses the families of the two men. Clyde Shelton loses his family, and at the same time Nick Rice is just starting his. Rice is beginning to learn how important a family is to a man, while Shelton values his family when he has it.

Furthermore, the fact that Clyde is a criminal while Rice is an attorney, who eventually becomes the District Attorney in Philadelphia, contributes to this foil as well. The contrasting views the two have regarding the way the legal system operates further contributes to the horrific acts that Shelton carries out through the course of the movie. Rice feels as though the legal system is as fair and just, while Shelton feels that the entire system wronged him and is totally corrupt. His frustration is his primary motivation and what causes him to commit his vengeance-fueled crimes. As Shelton carries out these acts, his character is continually becoming more and evil in comparison to the caring husband and father he is in the beginning of the film. 

Reactions of other characters comprise the last element of Clyde Shelton’s shift in character. His interactions with Nick Rice are the most profound because the two of them are dramatic foils. At the beginning of Shelton’s interrogation, Nick commends his acts of vengeance by stating, “What I’m about to tell you I don’t want anybody else to hear. As a prosecutor, I’m breaking all the rules right now, and I don’t give a damn because I’m a father. I have a little girl. And what you did…bravo. The world is better without Darby and Ames. You’re not gonna see a tear shed from me or anybody in my office. With that being said… I have a job to do.” Clearly Rice empathizes with Shelton at this point in the story. Near the end of the film, when Shelton’s master plan backfires and Rice hides the bomb intended to kill multiple government officials within Shelton’s solitary confinement cell, Rice proclaims, “Like I said Clyde, it’s a decision you’ll have to live with for the rest of your life. Which I figure right now is about 25 more seconds.” This shows that Rice no longer feels any hesitation about Shelton deserving punishment. 

The Philadelphia mayor’s reactions also show clear disdain towards Shelton. She is frustrated that the security of an entire metropolitan area is subject to the whims of one maniacal prisoner. As she is meeting with a task force, she voices her frustration when she states, “I refuse to believe that one man is smarter than Homeland Security, the FBI, the Sheriff’s department or the entire Philadelphia Police department. I don’t care how we do it or what kind of obscure legal justification we have to invoke. I don’t care what laws we have to bend. I am sure there is a provision of the Homeland Security Act we can activate.” Shelton has gotten under the Mayor’s skin, even though the two have never met in person. Shelton’s actions have made these characters volatile, revealing that his shift towards antagonist is complete. 

Clearly, reactions of other characters, dramatic foils, dialogue, and external action all expose the true nature of Clyde Shelton. Both Shelton’s own words and expressions from others reveal the formerly peaceful husband and father as a man consumed by vengeance. His contested relationship with Rice is central to his shift in nature; however, his own actions are truly what define the character Clyde Shelton. Although the experience for the audience is far from ordinary with regard to this main character, they realize his quest for revenge earns him warranted, albeit extreme, justice.