The Role of Women in "Imitation of Life"-TA: Daniel Biegelson
In the film, Imitation of Life, Lora, the main character, is looked at as a poor motherly figure because of her acting profession. This is seen at the end of the film, when Lora tells her daughter Susie, Annie (the mammy like figure), and Steve, a past love interest, that she is going to Italy to film another movie two weeks after Susie’s graduation. Susie immediately tells her that it is not enough time for them to see each other and is forced to walk away, and Steve silently disapproves, but tells Lora that he will look after Susie which she is away. In this scene, Lora is looked at as a less caring mother because she is following her passion and taking an initiative over her life. I definitely think that the director is critiquing her dominance and independence, considering during the the late fifty’s, the breadwinner ideal was definitely in play. The director is trying to tell the audience that a dominant womanly figure has a negative effect on the family that she is in. Susie is obviously missing her mother and Steve would like to spend time with Lora, therefore, her profession is only making the people she loves distraught. Society at this time wants women to be domesticated and have their only interest in their families and fulfilling their ‘womanly’ roles, but Lora cannot fit that cookie cutter mold for woman.
In this same scene, Susie is placed in the center of the screen in between Annie and Lora, while Steve is placed way off center, hardly in view. Her placement on screen symbolizes her inner conflict involving these two motherly figures. Although Lora is her biological mother, she is never around because of her independent and time consuming profession. Whereas, Annie acts as that typical domesticated house wife (without the husband) that spends her time with Susie, giving her the time and emotional attention that her mother, as a woman of the 50’s, should be giving her. Susie definitely ends up favoring Annie because of the genuine, motherly role that she plays in comparison to Lora. Furthermore, Steve is off center because he plays almost no role in any of the decisions in the family He is a passive, male character that follows whatever decisions his superior, Lora, makes for the family. This male role is very uncharacteristic of men in the 1950’s, who fed on being dominant in their family and personal relationships. In the beginning of the film, Steve tries to tell Lora that she cannot pursue her dream, but he is immediately shot down and for years, forgotten about because of his demand for the family. I think that in the later scene, the director looks down on Lora for putting Steve in an inferior position, but even after constant denial, Steve still takes on his role of looking after Susie. Therefore, this portrays Steve and Annie trying to take the fragmented family that Lora created and mold it into the American ideal of the time.
In the film, Imitation of Life, Lora, the main character, is looked at as a poor motherly figure because of her acting profession. This is seen at the end of the film, when Lora tells her daughter Susie, Annie (the mammy like figure), and Steve, a past love interest, that she is going to Italy to film another movie two weeks after Susie’s graduation. Susie immediately tells her that it is not enough time for them to see each other and is forced to walk away, and Steve silently disapproves, but tells Lora that he will look after Susie which she is away. In this scene, Lora is looked at as a less caring mother because she is following her passion and taking an initiative over her life. I definitely think that the director is critiquing her dominance and independence, considering during the the late fifty’s, the breadwinner ideal was definitely in play. The director is trying to tell the audience that a dominant womanly figure has a negative effect on the family that she is in. Susie is obviously missing her mother and Steve would like to spend time with Lora, therefore, her profession is only making the people she loves distraught. Society at this time wants women to be domesticated and have their only interest in their families and fulfilling their ‘womanly’ roles, but Lora cannot fit that cookie cutter mold for woman.
In this same scene, Susie is placed in the center of the screen in between Annie and Lora, while Steve is placed way off center, hardly in view. Her placement on screen symbolizes her inner conflict involving these two motherly figures. Although Lora is her biological mother, she is never around because of her independent and time consuming profession. Whereas, Annie acts as that typical domesticated house wife (without the husband) that spends her time with Susie, giving her the time and emotional attention that her mother, as a woman of the 50’s, should be giving her. Susie definitely ends up favoring Annie because of the genuine, motherly role that she plays in comparison to Lora. Furthermore, Steve is off center because he plays almost no role in any of the decisions in the family He is a passive, male character that follows whatever decisions his superior, Lora, makes for the family. This male role is very uncharacteristic of men in the 1950’s, who fed on being dominant in their family and personal relationships. In the beginning of the film, Steve tries to tell Lora that she cannot pursue her dream, but he is immediately shot down and for years, forgotten about because of his demand for the family. I think that in the later scene, the director looks down on Lora for putting Steve in an inferior position, but even after constant denial, Steve still takes on his role of looking after Susie. Therefore, this portrays Steve and Annie trying to take the fragmented family that Lora created and mold it into the American ideal of the time.