Cat People and Irena’s Racial Difference

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Horror film monsters are a representation of difference and could be positive or negative portrayal of that difference. In Jacques Tourneur’s 1942 movie Cat People Irena’s racial difference is looked as monstrous that leads to destruction. Irena is from Siberia and the cultural difference can be seen when compared to Oliver as he represents American culture. She is made to look as the villain of the movie because of her difference. The way she believes in the cat people form Oliver’s perspective portrays her as sick or crazy. Her passion turns to jealousy and as a result she pushes Oliver away. Ultimately she takes the doctors and her own life because of guilt. Oliver proposes to Irena and she tells him about the legend of the cat people. It becomes clear that Irena believes she is a descendent of the cat people and fears that she will transform into a panther if she kisses or has intimacy with another person. Irena’s believe of the cat people is a racial difference as she grew up in different culture and fully believes it to be true. However, Oliver dismisses it because he believes it is only a fairy tale. He as an American doesn’t believe in witches or cat people and believes that it can be solved through science. He sends her to a psychiatrist because she is insane to think that a person can transform into a panther. Her race has grown up believing that cat people are real and are afraid of them. It creates a negative portrayal of Irena believing in this legend because it makes them seem insane and really superstitious. Irena having such a horrible childhood might have traumatized her letting her believe that she is a cat person. Irena explains how in Serbia King John drove the Mameluks out when he saw what the villagers had become, cat people representing evil, and killed most of them. Irena is from Serbia and believes that she is a cat person. She runs
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