http://eweaver.umwblogs.org/bonnieandclyde/
Bonnie
and Clyde, directed by Arthur Penn in 1967, is a tragic story of two strangers
who meet by chance and find out that they are meeting the love of their life.
Perhaps the first time that Bonnie and Clyde meet is a foreshadowing to what
their life together would actually look like. A story of captivity, tragic loss and love.
Most people would say that Bonnie and Clyde never lived a
life of captivity because the police never caught them. Bonnie and Clyde’s life
together was characterized by running. Although the police never caught them,
they were held captive to a lifestyle of continually moving places. Even the
mom told them that they would never be able to live three miles down because
they would be arrested. Running is almost worst than being in prison because
there is never an end to running-only stress, fear and anxiety of being caught.
Bonnie and Clyde could not be who they wanted to be or do what they wanted
because running from the police ruled their lives and they became captives to
that lifestyle.
Tragic loss is a trend in this movie-tragic loss of self and
of loved ones. From the moment Bonnie joined Clyde, she tragically lost her
family to this lifestyle. Clyde lost his brother in this journey as well.
Eventually Bonnie and Clyde lost each other. Even before they physically lost
each other, they also lost themselves emotionally. They were so held captive in
this lifestyle, they lost things that they wanted in their life: freedom,
families and in violence. Bonnie and Clyde lost themselves in violence as well.
When Clyde killed a “laws,” he had to convince himself that he had to do it.
Once he killed the first person, it became much easier to do so the second and
third and fourth and so on.
Through all the madness, one thing seems to continually bind
Bonnie and Clyde together, love…tragic love. This love was complicated, yet
simple. When Bonnie tries to kiss Clyde the first time, he freaks out and tells
her that he respects her. It is obvious that they are in love with each other.
It seems that in this life full of captivity, loss and confusion it is each
other’s love that keeps the other afloat. But this simple love, also
experiences much complication. Clyde has intimacy issues which causes Bonnie to
doubt his love in general for her. Her frustration continues to build, but
trusts that Clyde loves her despite his issues. Bonnie loves the violence
aspect part of their relationship, and Clyde finally lets go of his intimacy
issues when Bonnie writes a poem of his story he could never write on his own.
Even in the last seconds of their lives when they know what is about to happen,
for an instance they look into each other’s eyes with a look of tender love and
sense of peace that they were thankful for each other. As Clyde desperately
tries to crawl to Bonnie, it is too late, but that look gives the other a sign
of peace and love before such a violent and vulgar death.
What I really like about this post is that it focuses on the connection between Bonnie and Clyde. How within this really tumultuous lifestyle, they found something in one another that gave them a feeling of being grounded to something. With such a violent lifestyle it is hard to make connections with people because you are constantly fighting for your life- you really don’t have time to think about someone else. I think that was the initial fear that Clyde had with Bonnie. The very second you start caring for someone else you become weak and vulnerable and when you’re killing people you cannot have that kind of mentality. On top of that you lose the ability to only care for your life and well-being and start worrying about someone else’s which can potentially compromise how you end up. Although when Clyde let down those barriers with Bonnie and he finally let her in, all of the madness surrounding them seemed to matter less. Even though they couldn’t have a typical lifestyle like most other people, it didn’t seem to matter as long as they were together. I agree that before Bonnie and Clyde had one another there was a feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives. When the movie first starts out and Clyde and Bonnie are in the diner- is a prime example of them both feeling lost. Clyde is captivated with the character of Bonnie and he is able to pinpoint her exact unhappiness. He tells her the real reason that she is unhappy, and Bonnie is enthralled with this prince charming, who seems to be the exception. He is the bad boy that is there to rescue her- and promise her all of the things she wants. I think that the combination of Bonnie and Clyde as a duo is very unhealthy and volatile. I think that if given the opportunity to settle down live a normal lifestyle they would still have been unhappy. In both of their circumstances I feel as though they were more of a choice of comfort and of stability as well as something new and exciting. I do not think that in the long run their interests and personalities however would have lasted.
ReplyDelete- Paola Ogadzhanova
Bethan Parmenter
ReplyDeleteThe story of Bonnie and Clyde is an epic tale about a couple who seem bound to fail, and crumble under the weight of their illegal activities makes it through to almost the end of the story. Even though they are what we would typically consider a "villian" you can't help but to route for them to succeed and get away with their robberies and murders. Like LT Thompson said above it is the tragedy that binds these two together so strongly and makes the viewers really feel for them. Their wrong doing subject them to an unstable lifestyle of running and fighting for survival but they are determined to keep their love the only thing untainted by their shady dealings with the law. The issue with Bonnie's mother telling them they can never live 3 miles away highlights how isolated they are from the rest of the world and the burden of always having to keep moving and watching out. It is like they can never look too far ahead in life because they are always covering their tracks behind them. The love story of Bonnie and Clyde is not the typical love story but it is one that enthralls viewers and makes the root for the two unlikely lovers living a lonely life of crime.