Terry's decision here is not based on the plight of the workingman, but rather a deep seeded desire to do something meaningful and clear his conscience. Despite being shunned by both the longshoremen and his Golden Warriors, Terry proves his worth as a hero when he goes down to the docks to "get [his] rights." .
Terry's renewed faith in freedom and justice ensures that he is indeed "somebody" who can change the lives of others. This is symbolized by his donning of Joey's jacket, like Kayo did before him. The motif shows that Terry is now a man of integrity- elevated above the reluctant 'D&D' clique of the longshoremen. Unlike his earlier actions, which are based on the decisions of others, his effort to face Friendly proves he is his own man after "rattin' on myself all those years." It is therefore curious why Kazan has Terry manipulated by Father Barry into making the film's closing walk into the shed. Despite this, the viewer has seen the transformation in Terry and recognizes the effort it has taken for him to reach a point where he can make changes and restore order to the docks.
In contrast to Terry, the character of Edie is immediately at odds with the world she is placed in. Edie is representative of how entering a new environment can change their individual reality and have an impact on those she encounters. She does not understand the code of the longshoremen and, enraged by her brother's death, initially refuses to play deaf and dumb. Edie's naivety carries with it fearlessness, that the 'real men' of the docks lack, as she lunges into burley dockworkers to grab a work token for her father. Her individual effort in this regard is seen in the effect she has on Terry's morality. Their walk through the park reveals to the viewer that they have a shared history but highlights their different values. .
Terry's placement of Edie's glove onto his own hand shows a subtle willingness to embrace her Christian values of "kindness" and being interested in "everybody else.