During the scene in which Jack, Luareen and Lureen’s family are having thanksgiving dinner seemed to be a point in which Lureen enjoyed a spark of pride and completeness. During most of the movie Jack is constantly being portrayed as inferior from remarks by Lureen’s father or patrons of the family business. Even Lureen herself was dismissive of Jack and his concerns about their son.
It was during the thanksgiving dinner that Jack finally had enough. Jack and Lureen’s son was watching the football game on TV while at the dinner table and not responding to Lureen’s questioning. Jack brought out the turkey and began to carve it when Lureen’s father belittled him by taking over the carving duties. This started jack’s temperature boiling at which point he lashed out by getting up and turning off the TV and telling his son to listen to his mother. Lureen’s father then proceeded to turn the TV back on and make a comment about “Real men need to watch football”. This further enraged Jack prompting him to again turn off the TV and proceed to finally put Lureen’s father in his place. It was at this time that Lureen was illuminated with the sense of fulfillment of having a complete husband that had shown a back bone and the potential to be the provider she had hoped for.
While Lureen was a strong and resilient woman who seemed to be the head of her immediate family, it was evident that she longed for a traditional marriage where the male was the primary provider who provided comfort and security for the family. This is no doubt a product for societal norms and expectations of the white patriarchal structure. Lureen struggles with this probably from the expectation of her father and what she has always known from seeing her father and other males being the primary decision makers of families. What Lureen actually learned, was how to take charge and be resilient and strong willed which was how she was portrayed in the movie. This further complicated Lureen’s feeling and expectations. If society had not set false boundaries and expectations for certain segments of our society, much of the animosity that perpetuates these barriers would be eliminated.
Ultimately Lureen struggled with her natural abilities as a leader and confident business women which were stifled by her own inhibitions which were ingrained in her by society contributing to her unhappiness.
5 comments:
Your point about the conflict within Lureen between her talents as a business woman and her desire for a traditional marriage are well documented throughout the film. You chose an excellent scene to illustrate that conflict.
Campbell, I like your assessment of Lureen's struggle between her instinctual ability to lead and provide for her family and her desire for a traditional patriarchal family.
I also feel that in this scene, Lureen and Jack seemed to be on a more equal footing than they had been throughout the rest of the film. Yes, Jack finally stepped into his role of "man" of the house, but it did not seem like he acted that way just to show that he could, even though that might have been a part of the reason why. While Ennis called the shots with his family with no input from Alma, and Lureen's own father ignored her order to turn off the television, Jack listened to what Lureen wanted to happen and made sure that it was carried out. In that moment it felt like they were partners who were disciplining their child together, and I think the respect shown to her by Jack made Lureen proud as well.
You mentioned that Lureen was struggling between accepting her role as the immediate provider and stepping back to let Jack be the main supporter while she performs traditional wife/motherly duties. Frankly, the movie was vague when it came to Lureen's role in the marriage. It seemed that she was neutral on that subject.
Although, it was very unsettling to see that she was such a savy and intelligent woman, yet, very naive when it came to figuring out what was going on between Jack and Ennis. In the film, she is totally oblivious to the infidelity. How is it that Alma, who was lesser educated, piece together the affair?
The director probably wanted to show society that being book smart does not necessarily mean that you possess street smart. The film may have purposely touched on this fact since it happens so often to the most unlikely people (Huma Abedin).
Look at the end of the film again, when Ennis calls Lureen after he gets his postcard returned with deceased on it. Look at Lureen's face. Does that face tell you she is a devastated wife or a wife who knew what was going on between her husband and the men he spends time with?
Campbell I really liked that you picked a scene that depicts the role of Laureen in the film. You discussed her natural leadership abilities and how it contributes to her unhappiness however I think she was unhappy that Jack did not embody leadership and confidence. Since she grew up with a strong willed father who was the primary caregiver for her family she was hoping that her husband could resemble him in that way. Laureen’s leadership was evident in their first scene together where she approached Jack in the bar and initiated sexual intercourse in the car. Subconsciously I think Laureen was hoping that Jack would put his foot down and tell her what to do. I agree that in this scene Jack finally became the man Laureen wanted and society expected.When Jack stood up to Laureens father it showed his love and devotion to her because he would not allow anyone including her father to disrespect her.
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