Way Down East Opening Scene Analysis

The world of film has always been a marvel amongst the general public of the United States. Within the early years of the magic of movie making, the field experienced monumental growth in a short period of time. From short pieces, grew full-length pictures, capable of expressing complex storylines and entertaining subplots. The early 1920s proved a time where the silent film could capture not only the attention, but also the hearts and minds of moviegoers, entrancing them in ways they had never been before. This is never truer than in the case of the 1920 romantic drama, Way Down East. The film by D. W. Griffith expresses its plot and numerous subplots in a manner that appealed to audiences and marked a change in the era of filmmaking. Through the masterful storytelling of the piece, definite instances and themes of objectification and discrimination of and toward women prove extremely evident. A common occurrence in the American silent film, the melodrama serves as a comprehensive means of translating the overlying motif in a telltale manner. The overarching differences in the perception of men and women are glaring within the film. In the words of Lowell Sherman’s character, “It’s different with a man,” referring to the social …show more content…
W. Griffith’s 1920 success. While reflecting the already established views and portrays of women in silent film, Way Down East doesn’t fail to make these opinions known through the veiled lens of well meaning. Such a theme makes multiple appearances throughout, weaving from plot to subplot, from main characters to momentary bystanders. While film grew and matured, certain ideas towards women very much remained stoic, impervious to the changes occurring around them. The film proved prosperous at the box office, but where it financially and popularly thrived, it declined to accordingly succeed in modernizing its views on women along with its techniques of filming and