Fatherhood and Betrayal: Daniel and H.W.’s Complex Relationship in There Will Be Blood

The Fragile Bond of Fatherhood

In There Will Be Blood, the relationship between Daniel Plainview and his adopted son, H.W., lies at the emotional core of the story. From the outset, Daniel takes H.W. under his wing, presenting him as his heir and business partner. Their bond is framed as a father-son relationship, but it is also one built on ambition and convenience, as Daniel leverages H.W.’s presence to establish trust with landowners and investors. This father-son dynamic plays a pivotal role in Daniel’s character arc, serving as both a strength and a weakness.

As the film progresses, the bond between Daniel and H.W. deteriorates, revealing the cracks in Daniel’s ability to balance fatherhood with his ruthless pursuit of wealth and power. The evolution of their relationship is marked by key moments of betrayal, emotional distance, and manipulation. The film ultimately explores how Daniel’s overwhelming ambition consumes his ability to nurture genuine human connections, especially with H.W. As the narrative unfolds, their relationship becomes a tragic reflection of the personal costs of Daniel’s unrelenting drive for dominance, setting the stage for an exploration of the fragile nature of fatherhood when intertwined with power and greed.

The Early Connection: Daniel’s Care for H.W

At the beginning of There Will Be Blood, Daniel Plainview appears to be a caring father figure to H.W., taking the boy under his care after H.W.’s biological father dies in an oil drilling accident. Daniel treats H.W. as his own son, involving him in every aspect of his burgeoning oil business. Key scenes, such as Daniel presenting H.W. to local landowners, demonstrate Daniel’s protective instincts and desire to build a legacy with his son at his side. The bond between them seems genuine, as Daniel teaches H.W. about the business and includes him in important decisions, portraying himself as a nurturing and responsible father.

However, while Daniel’s affection for H.W. seems genuine on the surface, the relationship is built on more than just fatherly love. H.W. becomes a symbol of trustworthiness for Daniel’s business dealings, as his presence helps Daniel gain favor with the families and communities whose land he seeks to exploit. In this sense, H.W. is not only a son but also a tool for Daniel’s success, a means to an end in Daniel’s pursuit of wealth and power.

This early dynamic sets the foundation for their complex relationship, where love and manipulation are intricately intertwined. As Daniel’s ambitions grow, this seemingly strong bond begins to unravel, revealing the deeper conflict between Daniel’s role as a father and his insatiable drive for success.

The Turning Point: H.W.’s Hearing Loss and Daniel’s Emotional Detachment

The pivotal moment in There Will Be Blood that changes the course of Daniel and H.W.’s relationship comes when an oil well explodes, resulting in H.W. losing his hearing. This traumatic event marks a critical turning point, not only in their personal relationship but in Daniel’s emotional journey as a father. Instead of responding with empathy and care, Daniel begins to emotionally withdraw from H.W., prioritizing his ambition over his responsibilities as a father.

Daniel’s detachment becomes evident as H.W. struggles with his newfound disability. Rather than focusing on his son’s well-being, Daniel’s attention shifts to securing more land and expanding his oil empire. This is clearly illustrated in the scene where, moments after the explosion, Daniel excitedly watches the oil gushing from the ground, seemingly unfazed by the fact that H.W. has just been injured. This moment demonstrates how Daniel’s obsession with success clouds his judgment, causing him to emotionally distance himself from H.W. when the boy needs him the most.

H.W.’s hearing loss also represents the beginning of Daniel’s view of his son as a burden. As the relationship deteriorates, it becomes clear that Daniel’s love for H.W. is conditional, tied to the boy’s usefulness in his business dealings. H.W.’s disability, instead of bringing them closer, further isolates them from one another. This emotional detachment foreshadows the eventual breakdown of their relationship, as Daniel’s relentless pursuit of power ultimately consumes his ability to be a caring father.

Fatherhood and Betrayal: Sending H.W. Away

One of the most heartbreaking moments in There Will Be Blood is when Daniel Plainview makes the decision to send H.W. away to a boarding school after the oil well accident that leaves the boy deaf. This act represents a profound betrayal, marking the moment where Daniel chooses his ambition over the emotional bond with his son. The choice to send H.W. away is not only practical—Daniel believes that specialized care will benefit H.W.—but also deeply symbolic of Daniel’s inability to handle vulnerability and the responsibilities of fatherhood.

By sending H.W. away, Daniel avoids facing the reality of his son’s disability and the emotional connection that H.W. represents. This moment reflects Daniel’s growing isolation, as he prioritizes the expansion of his oil empire over repairing the fractured relationship with H.W. The act of sending his son away demonstrates Daniel’s discomfort with emotional intimacy and his desire to remain in control, unburdened by the emotional weight of caring for someone vulnerable.

The betrayal of their bond is not lost on H.W., and the scene underscores Daniel’s transformation from a father who once seemed to care about his son’s well-being into a man who views human relationships as disposable. The emotional cost of this decision will become evident as H.W. grows older and begins to resent his father’s actions, setting the stage for a future confrontation. This moment is emblematic of the increasing distance between Daniel and the few personal relationships he has left, highlighting how his obsession with power leads him to push away those who care about him the most.

H.W.’s Rebellion: Independence and Resentment

As H.W. grows older, the emotional and physical distance between him and Daniel only increases. H.W.’s rebellion against his father is a direct consequence of years of manipulation, neglect, and emotional betrayal. By the time H.W. reaches adulthood, he seeks independence from Daniel, rejecting both his father’s ruthless ambition and the legacy of exploitation that Daniel has built through the oil business.

The culmination of H.W.’s independence comes when he decides to leave Daniel and start his own life. H.W.’s decision to pursue his own path is a powerful statement of rebellion against his father’s manipulative ways. He no longer wishes to live in Daniel’s shadow, defined by his father’s greed and dominance. In doing so, H.W. asserts his own identity, separate from the toxic environment in which he was raised.

The father-son confrontation that occurs later in the film is a deeply emotional moment, where the years of unspoken resentment finally come to the surface. In this scene, H.W. confronts Daniel with a mixture of sadness and anger, making it clear that he no longer wants anything to do with his father or his business. The bitterness and betrayal in H.W.’s words reflect the emotional toll Daniel’s actions have taken on him. H.W. no longer seeks his father’s approval or love; instead, he wants freedom from the toxic relationship that has defined his life.

This confrontation serves as a tragic reflection of Daniel’s failure as a father. Despite all of his wealth and power, he has lost the one person who could have brought him true fulfillment. The rebellion of H.W. is both a rejection of Daniel’s greed and a painful reminder of the personal costs of unchecked ambition.

The Emotional Cost of Ambition: Daniel’s Ultimate Betrayal

Daniel Plainview’s ambition, which once fueled his success, ultimately leads to his emotional and personal ruin. His relationship with H.W. becomes the ultimate casualty of his relentless drive for power. Throughout There Will Be Blood, Daniel’s inability to prioritize personal relationships over his desire for dominance isolates him from those who care about him, particularly his son.

The final separation between Daniel and H.W. serves as a painful reminder of how far Daniel has fallen. By the time H.W. walks away from his father for good, Daniel is left with nothing but his wealth and empty house—symbols of his external success but internal failure. Daniel’s ambition has led him to alienate his son, who no longer sees him as a father but as a symbol of greed and betrayal. The emotional toll of this dynamic is evident, even if Daniel refuses to acknowledge it outright.

The film portrays Daniel’s ultimate betrayal of H.W. as a reflection of his inability to let go of his thirst for power. Rather than embracing the emotional connection that H.W. represents, Daniel sees his son as another person to control, another pawn in his quest for dominance. The “I drink your milkshake” scene at the film’s end symbolizes Daniel’s madness and emotional disconnection. By the time he has everything he ever wanted in terms of wealth and success, he has lost the one thing that truly matters—his relationship with his son.

This tragic aspect of Daniel’s character reveals the deeper message of There Will Be Blood: unchecked ambition not only destroys external relationships but also erodes the very humanity that makes life meaningful. Daniel’s failure to balance his ambitions with emotional vulnerability leads to a life of isolation and personal ruin, making him a tragic figure despite his material success.

A Relationship Torn by Power and Pride

The relationship between Daniel Plainview and H.W. in There Will Be Blood evolves from one of care and promise to one of betrayal and separation. Through their interactions, the film explores how Daniel’s ambition and quest for power ultimately cost him his emotional connection to the one person who might have brought him fulfillment.

The portrayal of fatherhood in the film reflects the tension between power and vulnerability, as Daniel’s inability to embrace his role as a father leads to the breakdown of his family. There Will Be Blood offers a poignant commentary on how unchecked ambition and pride can destroy even the most important relationships, leaving only isolation and regret in their wake. The complex dynamic between Daniel and H.W. remains one of the most emotionally resonant aspects of the film, a testament to the personal costs of Daniel’s unrelenting quest for power.