Imitation Of Life Film Analysis

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Imitation of Life is a movie directed by John M. Stahl in 1934. Claudette Colbert plays the protagonist in the role of Beatrice “Bea” Pullman. Bea’s new found friend is Delilah Johnson, played by Louise Beavers. Together, both of these ladies create a successful business. Throughout the film we see both their daughters, Jessie and Peola, grow into beautiful women. The Imitation of Life is relevant to our class due to Bea and Delilah’s success after the Great Depression. The three literary devices best captured in Imitation of Life are the plot, characterization, and theme. The first literary device effectively used in Imitation of Life is the plot. Bea has recently lost her husband and is forced to raise her daughter, Jessie, by …show more content…
Bea and Delilah’s friendship is genuine from the start. Each did not care about color and both only wanted what was best for their daughters. Bea offers Delilah 20% of the company, but Delilah refuses because she is happy living with Bea and her daughter. Bea is characterized as the dominant female of the movie. Bea leads and runs the company, while Delilah cooks and is the face of the company. Together they both live in harmony, until problems occur with their children. Delilah is a wonderful mother that provides all her daughter Peola could want and need. To Peola this is not enough, she wants to be white not black. After years of Delilah trying to get her daughter to embrace her color, Delilah dies and Peola acknowledges her wrongs. After many years and a successful business, Bea falls in love with Stephan and is ready to marry him. She soon discovers that Jessie is also in love with Stephan. Due to the love Bea has for her daughter she calls off the engagement. Both of these women made great sacrifices for their children. They provided for them and cherished them. All the wealth in the world could not solve Peola and Jessie’s problems, only the sacrifice of true love from their mothers could. With the effective use of characterization, the audience was able to sympathize with Bea and

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