While watching "The Hours", I couldn't help feeling extremely sorry for Richard. Does it not tug on your heartstrings to watch the cutest little boy with the shiniest eyes ever be neglected by his mother, only to acquire AIDS and grow up to become a lonely, disheveled man who throws himself out a window in the presence of the one woman who he has stayed alive for? It should.
Something significant I noticed about Richard's story is the idea of living solely for someone else. During the flashback scene to the birthday dinner, his father introduces this trend, recalling Richard's mother as the beautiful, mysterious girl who he deemed the sole purpose of his life during the war. Although at the time Richard is merely a young boy listening intently to his father's words with big, innocent eyes, he seems to understand this concept. Later, we see that he applies this to his own life, revealing that he has stayed alive only for Clarissa all these years. In both cases, in the face of adversity or weakness - illness for Richard and war for his father - men hold on to a feminine figure for security. Simply put, they associate love with life. Thus, it is evident that love is a powerful driving force of humanity. Nevertheless, as Clarissa realizes in Mrs. Dalloway, time is an even stronger motivator. Although Richard stays alive for Clarissa, he recognizes that there comes a time for his life to end. Because he is able to accept the passage of time and his impending death, his ultimate decision is to kill himself.
hey I actually wrote about the same thing!! except yours is so much better than mine lol. I really like how you connect richard to his father and talked about how they both help on to females as security. that paragraph is so beautifully written, good job!
ReplyDeleteHi Angela! I must say, Richard's character really probed at my emotions as well. I totally didn't know that you cried at all. Great analysis on Richard!
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