Thelma and Louise Paper

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Thelma and Louise: Analysis of Patriarchal Roles in Film The film Thelma and Louise (1991), directed by Ridley Scott is a road movie that’s very unique when compared to your typical “road movie”. He switches roles, using two women as the drivers to show how women are having trouble in an increasingly patriarchal society. Louise, a waitress, decides to bring Thelma on a weekend trip to a cabin in the mountains. On their drive they decide to stop at a diner to grab something to eat. After a handful of drinks, Thelma is scene flirting and dancing with Harlan, who then brings her outside and attempts to rape her, only to find a loaded gun pointed to his head. When he doesn’t apologize and makes a snide remake, Louise shoots him straight in the chest. At first the viewer must think it was uncalled for, but we see that it’s punishment for him trying to rape Thelma, and inadvertently to get revenge on male rapists in general (we find out later Louise was raped in Texas). The two veer out of the parking lot and onto a large highway. It’s dark, raining and they’re having trouble finding a place on a road dominated by large 18-wheelers. Ridley hints that the road, although not made just for men, is still a dangerous place for women. They also discuss how the police wouldn’t believe the rape story on account of Thelma being seen flirting and dancing with him all night. This again shows how they’re intimidated by a patriarchal society. As the movie progresses we start to see the differences between the characters. Louise is definitely the leader, mainly because she’s a stronger and more levelheaded woman. Meanwhile Thelma is just a fluff head that’s been treated like a dog by Darryl for so many years. It’s especially evident when JD seduces her, sleeps with her, and then she leaves him alone in the room to rob them clean. The two women decide to

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