Themes Flashcards
(6 cards)
Ernestine
romanticist/dreamer —> cinema = coping strategy, graduation dress = dreams of future
- initially timid quiet/shy/intimidated - reluctant to voice views or enter conflict
- isolated/lonely/unpopular —> contrast to Ermina but they have bond despite differences
- r/ship with Lily —> awe/impressed/ inspired views and glamour —> dance, symbol of essay
- r/ship with Godfrey —> tries to obey/please but sceptical about FD
- Ernestine’s graduation —> ambition fulfilled, symbol of dress = pursuit of own path —> springboard to shape own life e.g. college
Lily
confident, assertive, forthright
- values appearance/ views outfits/smartness as a weapon/modern dresser —> coping mechanism
- mysterious/elliptical —> questions raised about past/current rship with Godfrey —> conflict, slight attraction
- ambitious/ intent on progress/ rebellious/ revolutions —> ‘non conformist’, communism —> desire for equality/justice in society
- care/ advice for E+E —> affection/laughter/ aspirational —> similarities between Ermina +Lily e.g. men/appearance
- defensive/ selfish/cruel (coping mechanism?) —> cruel comments towards Ernestine
Godfrey
R/ship with Father Divine
- excitement/childlike enthusiasm
- devotion
- Ernestine’s voice used to raise audiences doubts —> G seems even more naive
- desperation excess —> Gerte liberates him
Godfrey as a parent
- restricts them (protective)/ doesn’t understand them
- expresses love via food —> symbol
- desire to protect girls from Lily’s influence
- difficulty communicating —> notes reveal this
- does r/ship improve?
R/ship with Gerte
- influenced by FD - but does say he loves her —> lighting etc
- naive —> interracial marriage in time of racism/ segregation - attack
- drawn to her vulnerability - rescues her? —> but she helps him e.g. liberates him from FD
- r/ship strongly opposed by Ernestine - but she comes to accept it
R/ship with Lily
- elliptical references to last relationship —> shows how much G has changed
- temptations —> source of tension
- opposing influences
- conflict, G sees Lily as a source of trouble —> perhaps shares same ‘rage’ but different ways of coping/ reacting
Ermina
brave/outspoken/confident —> similarities to Lily
- cynicism/realism —> contrasts Ernestine’s idealistic viewpoint
- vulnerable/insecure
- importance of sexual desirability to her/ importance of appearance/ keen to assimilate
- bond with Ernestine —> but tension and differences, realistic sibling relationship
- symbols: love letter, hair, radio, cinema
Gerte
1950s America
