Table de matières
The previous chapter discussed conflict analysis in Housemaid. The present chapter focuses on the same film. It is intended to tackle the different themes contained in the movie. That is, it mainly aims at revealing the main ideas or messages that the movie dramatizes through the actions, reactions and interactions of the characters. This implies that a theme is the controlling idea, the basic message and the meaning of a literary work. It is what the writer wants to tell his audiences or readers.
The central theme in this film is love, which is, according to Hornby (2010:884), a strong desire or feeling of deep affection for somebody or something. It makes people to share life and sympathize with one another. In the movie Housemaid love is dramatized as a feeling that has origins, manifestations and results.
Love has origins. There are different ways, attitudes and events through which love is created. These are frequent meetings, mutual understanding and observation that lead people to love each other. Love originates from frequent meetings, this means that the fact that people regularly meet and see one other often leads them to love one another. As soon as a person discovers how good his or her partner is, she or he starts loving him or her .It also the case when he or she discovers something good in his or her behavior and ability. This is how Harris loves Suzzi. In fact Harris used to see her in their house as she was their house girl. He gradually started appreciating her. Suzzi also used to meet Harris in his bedroom and have conversations with him. This is a proof of how love originates from regular and frequent meetings. They used to go together and enjoy themselves. Similarly, Harris’ father also used to meet Suzzi in the kitchen and usually begged her to have sex with him, something Suzzi could never think of from him. He followed her Even in her chamber and pleaded her to be having sex with him whereas as she was in relationship with Harris, his son.
Love also originates from physical beauty. That is to say that a person loves another person according to how she or he admires him or her. Indeed, it is after a person has appreciated another person’s body that she or he goes deeply in detail to know about his or her life. And from the time he or she feels attracted by his or her body; he will not delay or resist expressing his or her admiration to him or her. That is what happened to Harris when he saw Suzzi for the first time. He resisted telling her before but later on he ended up telling her that he was fond of her.
The Following passage from the novel proves it:
Harris: She is a woman that I cherish; she drives me crazy,
if she only knew about it…she would have told me that she loves me because what I feel for her is real.
Harris: She is a woman I can start a family with
She is a hygienic, lovely wife and she has everything to win my heart
Suzzi: Who is that wife?
Harris: Will you help me to get her if I tell you?
Suzzi: Yes, I will help you.
Another example of how love originates from physical beauty is seen when Harris’ father meets Suzzi in the kitchen and started telling her that he loves her so much and that he will do whatever she wants if she accepts to be in love with him. This shows how Harris’ father is attracted with Suzzi’s beauty from the first impression. While she is already in love with Harris, but Harris’ father does not care about their love affair.
The following passage from script of the movie this:
Harris’ father: How is the morning?
Suzzi: Good.
Harris’ father: Where are those two, have they gone out?
Suzzi: Yes, they have.
Harris’ father: Thank you, you are clean; a woman has to be like that congratulations. What’s your answer on my proposal? Do you want me to cry?
Suzzi: Sir, I respect you, like my daddy, I can’t do that.
Harris’ father: I have used all the tricks yet you don’t seem to understand.
Suzzi: I’ m going through a lot yet you don’t feel sorry for me, I can’t do what you want me to do.
Harris’ father: I want to give you what I always give my wife
I have to do action to prove how much I need you
One day, I will prove to you how much I love you
You are so cute.
Last, Love originates from physical beauty since Linda saw Daniel in the first time and proposes him that he wants to be in love with him. Linda was attracted by Daniel.
Daniel agreed to be in love with Linda to satisfy her sexually and get money from her in exchange. Though Linda knew that, she loved him for not only sexually satisfaction, but also for boy’s beauty.
This part from the movie script supports this:
Linda: I’m always honest with you when I have money, and when I don’t have it. Do you want me to steal?
Daniel: Listen, you shouldn’t have told me to borrow money. How am I supposed to pay back?
Linda: Be patient.
Daniel: Give money so that I can pay back the money that I owe
Linda: How many times do I give you money? Who paid your tuition fees? Think twice before you talk.
Daniel: You are being unfair to me; you always give me money in exchange for sex.
Linda: what are you talking about?
Daniel: you have no money? I’m leaving then.
Linda: Where are you going?
Daniel: Why should I stay?
Linda: No, you are staying with me.
Daniel: What for?
The above mentioned quotation also proves how compassion can push a person to love another person. That is justified by the fact the sympathy that a person has for him or her partner will be displayed through some inner feelings or affection that put his or her partner at ease. This is seen through how Daniel told Linda that, he was there for satisfying her and that is to help. Compassion pushes Daniel to love Linda.
Apart from its origins, love also has manifestations. These consist of the different ways and attitudes through which love is shown or expressed. They are the various actions and behaviors displayed to testify the presence of love .They appear under different facets.
To start with, love is manifested through sweet words. A person in love always holds pleasing speech with the person that she or he loves, that is why lover always does something good to attract his or her beloved. A Lover easily finds something to give to a person him or her loves. Such is as the case with Harris, who always takes Suzzi to the shop and buys for her clothes. He usually goes to enjoy life with her in calm places. This is again the case of Harris’ father who decided to buy beautiful house for Suzzi. This is how love is manifested through sweet words praising Suzzi.
The following part of the movie proves:
Suzzi: You look so doleful; What‘s wrong?
Harris: It’s true …I’m not happy. I have a problem.
Suzzi: What problem?
Harris: Will you help me if I tell?
Suzzi: Yes, I will.
Harris: There is a woman that I cherish, she drives me crazy. If she only knew about it…she would have told me that she loves me because what I feel for her is real. She is a woman I can start a family with; she is wise, hygienic and lovely.
Harris: She has every reason to win my heart.
Love is also manifested through assistance. To show how much someone loves another, he always assist him or her in whatever situation or whenever. This was the case for Harris who went to see Suzzi at the hospital after hearing that she was hospitalized. Harris thought that it was Linda who caused Suzzi to be hospitalized, but actually it was his father who had raped her.
The following passage from the movie proves it:
Suzzi: Leave alone.
Harris: I want to know what happened.
Suzzi: I don’t want to see you again, leave alone.
Nurse: I’m the one who called you, let’s go outside and have a chitchat; you will understand. That is the truth, she was even hesitating to tell me about it but she did after feeling better.
She didn’t even want to give me your number but I had to convince her and she gave it to me ...I called you late because my phone had no credit.
Harris: What does Linda want from me? Thanks for saving my wife’s Life.
Harris: I think we should see the doctor and know what’s going on.
Furthermore, love is manifested through mercy. It is displayed through forgiving or accepting to forgive. Indeed, a person who loves is always ready to forgive whenever his or her beloved offends him or her. This implies that forgiveness is an expression of love. This is justified by the fact love is a feeling that erases any spitefulness and hatred between people. Such was the case of Harris who was ready to apologize on behalf of his mother who was mistreating Suzzi. When Harris presented Suzzi to his parents as his prospective wife, his mother did not want to hear that. Later on Harris apologize to Suzzi for his mother.
The movie script reports
Harris: Forgive me, it’s my fault; I will soon introduce you to them so that they can know what you mean to me.
Suzzi: This woman will end up killing me.
Harris: I cherish you but I don’t think if this will work out because of the nature of the job that I do. I’m not respected at all but I’m not different from women.
Harris: When it comes to you. I can’t allow any person to undermine you; we will live happily after getting married. Please, don’t cry.
This is how love is again expressed through mercy of accepting to forgive at the end of the movie. Harris became foolish after being bewitched by Linda, because he refuses to get married with her. When Harris became foolish, his parents sought how to overcome such a problem; they called a pastor in order to pray for him, and fortunately, Harris got well after being prayed for. All the family member forgive one another and wished Harris to get married to Suzzi. They resolved all the problems between Harris’ mother and Suzzi, Harris’ father with Harris’ mother, Harris’ father and suzzi, and Suzzi and Harris.
The script of the movie proves it:
Harris: Each of you knows his mistake but I’m not sure what’s next.
Harris’ mother: As for me, I would like to apologize to Suzzi, for all that I did to you back in the day.
Harris’ mother: I’m not the same Mama Harris you used to know I’m a changed one.
Harris’ father: I’ m sorry, guys. Let’s forget about the past I blame it on the devil.
Harris: I forgive you, guys, let’s forget about the past.
Harris: Most families don’t respect the housemaids but the truth is house maids know, family secrets and can do harm if they want to.
Harris: I’m asking you guys to put in mind that all human beings are equal and love does not ask why.
Harris’ mother: I think I have learnt something from what we have been through.
Harris’ mother: Let me say again, forgive me Suzzi. I think you are very understanding and you know a lot of about religion. I’m sure you have forgiven us, please do that.
Love has not only origins and manifestations, but also results. These are the feelings and emotion that a person enjoys from love; they are of various kinds.
Love brings happiness that is a person who loves or is loved cannot be sad when he or she is with his or her beloved. This implies that a lover’s duty is to please, console and comfort his or her beloved. A lover’s first objective is to please his or her beloved or make him or her happy .That is why Harris praised his beloved Suzzi and promised her that at the end of the month they would go together to suzzi’s place. He also comforted her by telling her not to worry because she would be introduced to the family and she would not be mistreated again.
The following passage from the movie script report:
Harris: If what I’m doing now is a crime, I’m ready to go to jail. Please, be my girl; I love you. You are the woman. I had to get it off my chest, you are the woman, I need in my life.
Harris: Allow me to be your man; let me in your heart, I love you.
It’s all my fault, result; I will soon introduce you to them so that they can know what you mean to me.
This central theme of love is even clearly shown at the end of the film when Harris says I’m asking you guys to put in mind that love so does not ask why.
In the movie Housemaid, apart from the central theme which is love, there are also sub-themes, which support the central theme.
According to Hornby (2010:948), misunderstanding is defined as a light disagreement or argument .Misunderstanding is one of the sub-themes in Housemaid. It makes people not want to hear anything from one another because she or he misbehaves in front of him or her. This always happens in love relationship. Misunderstanding is shown through the way Linda wants to impose herself over Harris in their love relationship and she forbids him to have lunch or share whatever with other people .But Harris does not appreciate her unpleasant behavior and this causes them to be in disagreement .They do not want to see or visit one another and Linda even starts to chase Harris from her house.
The script of the movie reports:
Linda: Who brought you this message?
Harris: My work mate.
Linda: (mocking) My work mate.
Linda: Now there is a lot going on in this office, am I right?
Harris: Is it a bad thing to get a message from a worker to ask for a lunch date?
Linda: You are the one who is wrong, so there is no way that you can find it to be a bad thing.
Linda: What do you want me to do? Listen, we will never get along unless you do as I say.
Harris: We are different; I will always be Harris not Linda. Is there anything wrong I have done to you?
In a love affair, when two lovers exaggerate not wishing to listen to another, this always brings separation. One can impose himself or herself by thinking that the other will obey but the other does not obey and it causes separation between them.
The following dialogue supports:
Linda: Tell, Linda to forget about me, I can’t be with such a woman...
Harris: She should be able to differentiate that we belong to two different classes.
In a love relationship, when two lovers do not want to hear each other .This can cause one them to use magic power to try and restore the situation. This was the case for Linda, who after being separated from Harris, consulted Harris’ mother to look for a man who would be able to restore their love relationship by using magic power. Linda got in contact with man who practises magic and he assured her that it would be good. Unfortunately, Linda does not succeed, i.e. she was not loved, but she made Harris foolish.
The following extract of the film reports:
Linda: I still believe that Harris has been bewitched; We should go to the witchdoctor.
Harris’ mother: Let’s go.
Linda: We don’t have to go, he can go solve it over the phone
Harris mother: It can be solved over the phone.
Linda: Yes. We call him and send him a voucher. That’s all.
Harris: That’s not a big deal.
Linda: But it’s my aunt who is his client, not me.
Harris: Never mind, let’s do it asap, because I’m fed up.
According Hornby (2010:4), adultery is defined as sex between a married person and somebody who is not their husband or wife. Sometimes a married persons refuses to have sex with their husband or wife and decides to have sex with other people. This subtheme is conveyed through Harris’ father. Who wanted to fall in love with Suzzi unfortunately, Suzzi refuses. He finally succeeds in having sex with her secretly by raping her. In addition, Linda also invites him to a given house to have a talk about Harris’ problem especially concerning their love affairs. She wants to send Harris’ father to go and advices his son, Harris, to resume love with her. But they do not insist on that, Linda decides to touch herself to sexually attract Harris’ father who accepts to have sex with her without knowing that there is a camera which is filming.
The script of the film testifies:
Harris’ father: Where are those two, have they gone out?
Suzzi: Yes, they have.
Harris’ father: Thank you, you are clean, a woman has to be like that congratulations
suzzi: Sir, I respect you like my daddy; I can’t do that.
Harris’ father: I know but you have to give your parents that kind of respect, not me, I want to be your hubby.
Suzzi: I’m going through a lot of pain yet you don’t feel sorry, for me. I can’t do what you want me to.
Harris’ father: We have to do sex.
I’m not your daddy; remove your clothes voluntarily before I use force.
Suzzi: I can’t do that.
Harsh misunderstanding is portrayed between Harris’ parents. When Linda is having sex with Harris’ father, she had prepared a camera which was filming them but Harris’ father did not see that camera. Linda then goes to show to Harris what she has been doing with his father. Harris gets angry and takes the camera in order to show it to his mother who put so much consideration on Linda and wanted Harris to get married with here, after watching the film, Harris’ mother does not want to hear anything from Linda or from Harris’ father who is now neglected by his wife because of having sex with her so called prospective daughter in-law Linda.
Sometimes, in a love relationship or in the family, if a husband or wife is used to committing adultery with other people, if she or he is caught, his or her partner does whatever he or she wants to that man or woman to revenge. This happened to Linda after she has had sex with Harris’ father. After Harris’ mother has watched what Linda and her husband did, she goes to wait for Linda in beauty saloon and prepares acid to pour on her face. When Linda arrives, Harris’ mother pretends to befriend her and succeeds in pouring acid on her face. This makes Linda to be disliked by Daniel, her so called-brother. He no longer wants to see her even if they used to have sex because Linda has become ugly.
The following passage from the narrative proves:
Daniel: I have already bought the ticket. Tomorrow at 6, you have to go back to the village.
Linda: I can’t go back to the village; I will wait until I find out what is the destiny of my life is.
Daniel: What’s it that you want to know? Let me be honest with you I’m tired of taking care of you I’m not even your love.
Linda: Don’t say that. I’m the reason why you are who you are now.
Daniel: Don’t cry, your face is burned because of your idiotic behavior.
It’s true that you made me who I ’am but you did it to get my love. I have another girl I love.
Daniel: Look at that face, no man will want you. Sorry for laughing but you are a disabled, you look like a beggar. May be you should go to Europe and do a plastic surgery but you can’t because you are broke.
When people live happily respecting and taking care each other and taking account of what their partners say or propose, if a person commits adultery, all his or her honor and respect are gone. This is what happens to Harris’ father after having sex with Linda. His wife neglects him and Harris’ father becomes humiliated. Everything he says is rejected and disconsidered. The Following passage from the script of the movie proves:
Harris’ father: What are we going to do about Harris? I’m talking to you, let’s forget about the past ...let’s focus on the future, I blame it on the Devil.
Harris’ mother: Shut up, you are blaming it on the Devil fornicating with Linda. Is the Devil your pal?
According, mistreating is defined as the treatment of a person or animal in a cruel, unkind or unfair way. When someone is from a lower social class, sometimes he or she is neglected and for ill _treated by people of the upper class. This is was Suzzi experiences in the movie housemaid. She was working in Harris’ family as House girl. She is, therefore, mistreated by Harris’ mother because of her social class. When Harris’ mother hears that Suzzi will soon become her daughter in-law, she extrapolates mistreating her.
The following script of the movie supports:
Harris’ mother: There is no tranquility in this house; I’m not happy; you haven’t done the chores since the morning.
Harris’ mother: I’m talking to you.
Suzzi: I’m not feeling good, I’m sick
Harris’ mother: Thanks; you can say whatever you want because you are a bride to be.
You have nothing to worry about; couldn’t you call and tell me about it?
Suzzi: Forgive me, mom, I’m not feeling well.
Harris’ mother: You have nothing to worry about, do you? All i want now is for you to cook for me.
When Linda hears that Suzzi has fallen in love with Harris, She looks for Suzzi and forbids her to frequent Harris. She beats her seriously and threatens to harm her more severely if she continues to love Harris.
The following extract from the movie proves:
Linda: You are a villager, you are still new to this city, I will harm you.
Suzzi: You should fight with him not me.
Linda: Stop flirting with him, you are a village.
Mistreatment is also seen here, one day Harris’ mother is about to leave, she forgets her wallet, ring and watch in her bedroom. When arriving in the sitting room, she meets Suzzi sitting and starts sending her to her bedroom to bring one thing after another in different turns. This makes, who was there watching feel pity and unhappy .Harris wants his mother to send Suzzi all the things at once, not one after at time.
The following passage from the movie testifies:
Harris’ mother: Suzzi, Bring me my bag, it is in my room.
Harry up, Gosh...give it to me.
Bring me my watch; it is in my room on the dressing table, hurry up.(After sometime)
Bring me my ring. It’s there too.
Harris: Mo, can’t you ask her to bring my stuffs at once? Where will you stop acting like that?
In life sometimes a person is badly treated by other people because of his or her social level or because people are jealous of him or her. This is the case of Suzzi who loses hope of being married by Harris and she starts telling to Harris that she is tired of such kind of sufferings and wants to be taken to her place but Harris tries to show her that she should not worry because at the end of the month they will be together at her place. Later on, she is convinced and becomes patient.
The following passage from the script of the movie proves it:
Suzzi: Take me back to the village .When you are ready to get married come and get me.
Harris:I understand you, Bear with me, I will be on leave from the end of this month.
Suzzi: Maybe you want me to be exterminated, what will you tell my mom?
Harris: How will that happen? I can’t mistreat.
Harris: Just bear with me; it’s about to be solved; we will go to the village together.
Suzzi:You are full of confidence.
This theme of mistreatment is clearly what Harris is fighting against. When he says at the end of the film...”keep in mind that all human beings are equal”.
According Hornby (2010:1228), Reconciliation is defined as an end to a disagreement and a start of a good relationship again.
Reconciliation leads to forgiveness
When people may see that things are getting worse in their family and they know the source of problem, they usually see how to resolve it. This is what happens in Harris’ family. After many quarrels opposing Harris and Linda, Harris’ father and Harris’ mother, and the house girl and Harris’ mother and the house girl and Harris’ father, when Harris is bewitched by Linda, they sit to see how to find a pastor who can pray for Harris. Fortunately, the pastor comes and prays for him and he gets well. Now the family members consult one another in order to be unified and start a new life without quarrel. This is how reconciliation leads to forgiveness.
The following dialogue from the movie proves:
Harris: Each of you knows his or her mistake but I’m not sure what’s next.
Harris’ mother: As for me ,I would like to apologize to Suzzi for all that I did to you back in the days...I’m not the same Mama Harris you used to know ,I’m a changed one
Harris’ Father: I’m sorry guys. Let’s forget about the past, I blame it on the Devil.
Harris: I forgive you guys, let’s forget about the past.
Harris: Most families don’t respect the house maids but the truth is house.
I’m asking you guys to put in mind that all human beings are equal and love doesn’t ask why.
Harris’ mother: I think we have learnt something from what we have been through.
Let me say this again ,forgive me Suzzi,I think you are very understanding and you know a lot about religion; I’m sure you have forgiven us ,please do that
This chapter has dealt with thematic study in Housemaid by Hemed Suleiman.
It deeply analyzed the different messages conveyed through this movie. It showed that the central theme is love and its subthemes are (1.) misunderstanding, (2.) adultery and its consequences, which are revenge and dishonor and (3.) mistreatment and reconciliation.
The next part of this paper is the general conclusion. It summaries the general ideas discussed in this paper.
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