Groundhog Day, and the Many Speeches of a Misanthrope

Groundhog Day, a highly regarded film, concerns an arrogant and misanthropic weatherman who is stuck in a time loop and repeatedly forced to live his personal hell.  Protagonist Phil Connors, to his horror, finds that he keeps reliving February 2nd, or Groundhog Day (a day where he travels to backwater Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the Groundhog Ceremony), and realizes that nothing can stop the time loop.  In other words, he can do anything he wants, and, regardless of his actions, will wake up at 6 AM on February 2nd as if nothing ever happened.  Upon realizing this, Phil initially exhibits bewilderment, than excitement, excessive hedonism, anger, hopelessness and depression, and finally, compassion and humility.   As a reporter covering the Groundhog ceremony, Phil is obligated to broadcast the events via television, and his numerous speeches (due to the time loop) reflect his gradual changes in personality and outlook and ultimately reflect his newfound sense of humanity.


In the first coverage of the Groundhog Day ceremony (the time loop hasn't yet begun), Phil Connors is his usual egotistical and condescending self.  He views the people of Punxsutawney as uncouth hicks who are uncultured due to their worship of a rat, and his first speech reflects these views:

The first speech, although indeed professional and succinct, has more than a little sarcasm and arrogance woven into it by the misanthrope.


Upon relieving February 2nd for the second time in a row (the time loop has begun), Phil's confident swagger and arrogant overtones have almost completely vanished, and he can barely contain his bewilderment.  His second speech conveys confusion:


(on camera)
"It's Groundhog Day...again.  That must mean we're at Gobbler's Knob waiting for the forecast from the world's most famous weatherman, Punxsutawney Phil...whose just about to tell us how much winter we can expect...


His sarcasm and disdain gone, Phil's second speech now contains a sense of doubt, and his inflection sounds unconfident and perplexed.


After multiple February 2nds, Connors begins to realize that he can live a life without consequences, and begins to indulge in excessive hedonism: he eats whatever he wants without having to worry about health, constantly seduces women, and steals money.  His next speech reflects his newfound sense of invulnerability:


(on camera)
"...Punxsutawney Phil, who as legend has it, can predict Spring.  The question we have to ask ourselves is, 'Does Phil feel lucky?'"


While this version of his speech sounds remarkably similar to his previous ones, his tone is much more light-hearted, and it seems the question he asks concerning "Phil" is not about the groundhog, but himself.


After what is implied to be several long years of repeating February 2nds, Phil Connors has become bitter and jaded about his fate.  He resents himself, and he wallows in his misery.  His next speech reflects this:

His tone is biting and vengeful, and misery seems to ooze from his body.

After more time has passed in the time loop, Phil has lost all hope in life and is desperate to end his misery.  Instead of the obviously venomous disposition he had before, his actions now seem to border on insanity:

There is now a sense of dark humor in his speech as he begins to believe that he must physically kill the groundhog to end the cycle.  He now also begins to contemplate suicide in an attempt to free himself of his wretched fate.


After many more years pass in the time loop, Phil, at the urging of his co-worker, Rita, begins to have a new outlook on his situation and on life in general.  He begins to use all of the excess time to his advantage, and begins to culture himself.  He learns the piano, learns French, and reads classical literature.  In addition to this, he begins to help the people around him, as he has gotten to know the citizens of Punxsutawney and is aware of their upcoming situations.  His newfound outlook is reflected in his final speech:

His speech, which is both cultured and well-versed, exudes good will and empathy, and elicits a positive response from both the townsfolk and his co-workers (who previously resented Phil).  Phil's final speech also helps convey the overall message of the movie: that life is what you make it, and that a positive outlook and compassion to your fellow human beings can alleviate any predicament.