All That Heaven Allows Literary Elements

All That Heaven Allows Literary Elements

Director

Douglas Sirk

Leading Actors/Actresses

Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson

Supporting Actors/Actresses

Agnes Moorehead and Conrad Nagel

Genre

Drama

Language

English

Awards

The film and the actors did not receive any awards.

Date of Release

25 December 1955

Producer

Ross Hunter

Setting and Context

The action takes place during the 1950s in New England.

Narrator and Point of View

The action is told from the perspective of a third-person objective point of view.

Tone and Mood

The tone and mood in the film are mostly tense.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist us Cary and the antagonists are represented by her friends and family who refuse to accept Cary's love for Ron.

Major Conflict

The major conflict is an internal one and is between Cary's desire to be with the man she loves and the need to subject herself to the accepted social norms.

Climax

The film reaches its climax when Cary and Ron end up together.

Foreshadowing

The film begins with Cary sitting together with her friends at her country club, discussing the life of another woman who decided to cheat on her husband. This woman is harshly criticized by those present and the idea is that she was shunned by the rest of the group. This scene is an important one because it foreshadowed the way in which Cary will be treated when she will decide to no longer adhere to the socially accepted norms and beliefs.

Understatement

When Cary's children claim they will do anything to make her happy is an understatement because it is later proven that they are far more interested in how society perceives them rather than taking care of their mother.

Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques

N/A

Allusions

The main allusion we find here is the idea those who have a lot of money are unhappier when compared to those who have the bare minimum.

Paradox

The main paradoxical idea we find is that men are praised for finding someone a lot younger than them while women are criticized and shunned from society.

Parallelism

A parallel is drawn between Ron and Cary's deceased husband, soon after Cary realizes she had fallen in love. This parallel has the purpose of showing just how different and modern Ron is and how it makes Cary happy and fulfilled.

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