Bonnie and Clyde Essays

Bonnie and Clyde Essays Bonnie and Clyde Paper Bonnie and Clyde Paper At first glance Bonnie and Clyde is a story of crime involving two equal parts, but after some examination it is clear that the film is very much a story exclusively about the character of Bonnie. Clyde and other characters act as foils for Bonnie and never fully develop in the same way that she does. Bonnie evolves as the story progresses, and although she is very masculinized, her initial immaturity dissipates with her characters confusion of gender identity. The film opens with an extreme close up of Bonnie putting lipstick on her lips, a very deliberate idea of femininity. However, she is bored and aimlessly wanders around her room naked; she peers outside and sees Clyde attempting to steal her mothers car. She confronts him and ultimately she is convinced to go with him to lead a life of freedom and excitement. Her role as the woman perpetuates her fascination with Clydes reckless masculine quality but the role becomes unnecessary and extraneous after he admits that he is impotent, or not much of a lover boy. She eventually accepts her role as equal companion to Clyde in his endeavors and becomes very satisfied with such. For instance, when trouble starts to brew Clyde warns Bonnie that she aint going to have a minutes peace, to which she simply responds, You promise? Later, in her foreshadowing poem that she reads to Clyde, shes admits to her self that death is the only means by which she will be relieved of the burdens of the life of crime she has chosen. Clyde in turn becomes excited by the poem realizing how their story would become legendary with its printing; his sexual ineptness is evidently cured and all of a sudden he wants to marry Bonny in the next scene. This is the most telling scene of Bonnies transformation back to a character that wants a civilized life; she asks Clyde if he would do anything differently if they could have it all back. Bonnie is noticeably disappointed when he responds superficially and without any regard to a different lifestyle which Bonnie now longs for. Bonnie is also significantly foiled against the films other female character, Bucks wife Blanche. Bonnie is very assertive and lively whereas Blanche is reserved and polite in the scene when they meet each other. Bonnie is quick to grab Clydes gun and pose in front of the car in a very masculine way for the camera. Blanche doesnt want her picture taken at all, and when its done anyway, it is just of her and Buck with their arms around each other. By this point in the film Bonnie is at her peak of masculine quality, she is surprised and disgusted at how reserved and manner-aware Blanche seems to be. When the gang is in the cabin and the police confront them, Bonnie responds as quickly as the three men do fend themselves off from the police officers. Blanche proceeds to only scream and run away from the loud guns and, as they escape, Blanche is practically left behind until she frantically runs after the vehicle; Bonnie is clearly one of the guys, a true part of the gang and Blanche is only an afterthought even to her husband Buck. Additionally, Bonnies character is the only one in the film that is shown as having a family who she wants to be with, with the exception of Buck and Clyde. C. W. Moss foils Bonnie in the sense that his father plays a significant role in the film, but he doesnt go to him until he needs help, and it is in the best interest of the whole gang. Bonnie longs to see her mother, an indication that she may miss her old life; it may have been boring but it was also meaningful and safe. She slowly become dissatisfied with the life she hastily chose when she met Clyde. She does go home to her mother with everyone but only after trying to run away from the gang in order to do so; she has become so dissatisfied with the life that she doesnt even bother to warn Clyde of her departure, not wanting to bring the gang into her family atmosphere. Both C.W. Moss father and Bonnies mother are disapproving of their behavior, but whereas Mrs. Parker reaffirms Bonnies need for something more, old man Moss feelings of Bonnie and Clyde and their way of life only causes C. W. Moss anger and a lack of understanding. Bonnie Parker is slowly transformed from restless female to a gun shooting, money loving, masculinized character. By the end of the film it is too late for her to transform back despite wanting nothing more; she realizes that any life with Clyde would be a nomadic life of crime and must accept her fate as a gangster as she wrote about it in her own poem. Ironically, Bonnie is the only character who both wants out of the life, but also realizes that such an opportunity is an impossibility.