Introductory sentences for Soloist essays

1.  In the scene where Steve first meets Nathaniel, his preconceived notions about homeless and mentally ill people greatly affect his expectations for Nathaniel.

2.  Nathaniel tells Steve, "I've had  a few setbacks," and Steve's response is, "Me, too."  This dialogue is symbolically important.

3.  The filmmaker uses a montage of seemingly unrelated visual images when Nathaniel is playing or listening to music and these images have a symbolic and literal purpose.

4.  Nathaniel's mental illness affects his friendship with Steve a lot.

5.  Beethoven is used as a recurring symbol and he is a very important figure in Nathaniel's life.  

6.  Steve tells Nathaniel, "I want to write a column about how a guy like you winds up on the street."  Although this statement is simple, it is also very complex.
7.  Music meant a great deal to Nathaniel throughout his life.

8.  Steve's columns about Nathaniel touched many of his readers and moved them to offer to help Nathaniel in many ways.

9.  Steve's attitudes toward homeless and mentally ill people changed a great deal throughout the film.

10.  Homelessness and mental illness are explored at the personal and policy level in the film.  These two areas are related, but are also disconnected.

11.  Nathaniel's outburst in the film, when he attacks Steve, is significant to their friendship and causes Steve to change his behavior.