But in Ridley Scott's female road epic, Thelma must escape the madcap, silly housewife persona that leads her into a bad situation during the opening cowboy dance scene that nearly results in a rape. Thelma becomes toughed for the better by the proximity of the character of Louise and gaining a new outlook on female empowerment.
Audrey was also married, like Thelma, to a violent man named Ray. Her chosen protector Charlie finds the ray of his own manhood by saving Audrey, after she has playfully abducted this uptight yuppie from his rote, miserable job and dull daily existence. This suggests that men can rescue women from the tyrannies of patriarchy in exchange for female lightness and delights. But both the personas of Thelma and Louise suggest in their struggle men cannot. Even the well-intentioned FBI pursuer who knows the history of the women cannot save them -- he must let them go, ultimately, in their drive over the cliff to death. Even when he commiserates with Louise, ultimately the male's attempt to show sympathy and protect the woman is in the service of the
Both express the common 'road picture' mistrust that society is bad, but
friendship in transit and
travel outside of mundane society can be positive. But Demme's 1986 film suggests that if men act against the law, cast aside their feminine hang-ups, they can take over the function of the law and protect fragile and vulnerable creatures like Audrey. Men and women must be unequal, men must offer women protection but the Ridley Scott film of Thelma and Louise suggests that there is no such protection. Women are on their own, on the road, just as much as men -- a rough social equality that is both frightening and exhilarating as driving off a cliff.
Works Cited
Easy Rider." Directed by Dennis Hopper. 1969.
Feminism." WordReference.com Dictionary. 11 Dec 2004 http://www.wordreference.com/definition/feminism
Thelma and Louise. Directed by Ridley Scott. 1991.
Road to Bali. 1949.
Something Wild. Directed by Jonathan Demme. 1986.
