Feminism in Film: Thelma and Louise

            In the movie Thelma and Louse it begins with the men having the dominant roles and the woman being the weaker sex.  It starts with Thelma being over powered and afraid of her husband.  Louise seemed stronger and more independent.  It was early on that you knew Louise wanted Thelma to take control of the way she was being treated.

            The two decided to go on a road trip and Thelma didn’t tell her husband out of fear, yet the first night when they stopped she became friendly with a man who almost attacked her.  This forced Louise to stand up for her friend and she shot and killed the man.  This set off a chain of events with them running from the law.  As the movie progresses they encounter many men who seem to think these two women are pushovers and can be easily be taken because they are women.  This causes the women to gain courage almost as though they have nothing left to lose.  It is at this point the balance of dominant roles shifts.

            Between the thoughts of getting caught and being killed the two women seemed to be happier.  Almost as though they had been set free and had a new found bravery.  Throughout the movie there was one man who genuinely wanted to help them, but because of their past and what they’d been through and how they’d been treated, they wouldn’t let him.  They couldn’t let themselves trust him.
           In this move there are three main male characters.  Thelma's husband, Darryl, one of the detectives, Hal Slocomb, and a man they meet on the road, J.D. Darryl was completely overbearing and controlling.  Thelma was afraid of him and lived her life with him doing as she was told and how she felt she should behave.  J.D. seemed caring and concerned and she instantly seemed to fall for him and to trust him, but he ended up using her and stealing all of their money.  Hal was genuinely concerned and really wanted to help the women.  However, they had both been so used and taken by the time he'd come along they wouldn't allow themselves to trust him.  Although the ending seemed tragic the two women had made a joint decision which they both felt empowered them.