Formalism: 'Coming Of Age In The Movie Juno'
Christian Smith
Mrs. Schoudt
English IV Honors
8 November 2010
Formalism Essay Juno’s pregnancy started her process of coming of age and showed how certain incidents start the process earlier then others. How the movie was constructed together by the leading each stage of Juno’s problems through the mood or tone of one of the four seasons, starting in fall, is parallel to how Juno blooms into the rebirth of new, mature person. Beginning in fall, Juno finds out that she is pregnant. The mood in fall is quiet and calm. Just like fall, Juno is also quiet about the whole incident. Instead of being open she went to the abortion clinic without anyone knowing to find more information about pregnancy. This also shows her immaturity due to her
hiding her mistakes without telling the truth. This has made her begin her adulthood at an early stage than her peers. In winter, Juno has found a couple to take care of her baby and has become close to them. During this season is when Mark is beginning to have “cold-feet” about the baby and Vanessa and everything Juno has wanted to happen has gone wrong. The mood winter brings is that of sadness and depression. Similar to winter, Juno feels the same and feels a whirlwind emotions due to the Mark and Vanessa issue and he pregnancy .The problems she is dealing with can compare to “grown-up” problems that she needs to start to solve as she goes through adulthood. During spring, Juno gave birth. The mood in spring is relief. Relief from the dangerously cold air that winter has. Juno feels this relief when she gives birth. It is a sign of her completing her coming of age into adulthood. In the transition into summer, Juno and all her problems perceive to be gone. The pregnancy and adoption problems are over and she and Paulie are in love. The mood in summer is happiness. In the ending scene, the mood is evident when they are singing in the early summer mourning without care of anything. This is also shown by Paulie’s ending devotion to track. Juno's experience, though she wasn't prepared for it, actually helped her become a more mature adult.
Mrs. Schoudt
English IV Honors
8 November 2010
Formalism Essay Juno’s pregnancy started her process of coming of age and showed how certain incidents start the process earlier then others. How the movie was constructed together by the leading each stage of Juno’s problems through the mood or tone of one of the four seasons, starting in fall, is parallel to how Juno blooms into the rebirth of new, mature person. Beginning in fall, Juno finds out that she is pregnant. The mood in fall is quiet and calm. Just like fall, Juno is also quiet about the whole incident. Instead of being open she went to the abortion clinic without anyone knowing to find more information about pregnancy. This also shows her immaturity due to her
hiding her mistakes without telling the truth. This has made her begin her adulthood at an early stage than her peers. In winter, Juno has found a couple to take care of her baby and has become close to them. During this season is when Mark is beginning to have “cold-feet” about the baby and Vanessa and everything Juno has wanted to happen has gone wrong. The mood winter brings is that of sadness and depression. Similar to winter, Juno feels the same and feels a whirlwind emotions due to the Mark and Vanessa issue and he pregnancy .The problems she is dealing with can compare to “grown-up” problems that she needs to start to solve as she goes through adulthood. During spring, Juno gave birth. The mood in spring is relief. Relief from the dangerously cold air that winter has. Juno feels this relief when she gives birth. It is a sign of her completing her coming of age into adulthood. In the transition into summer, Juno and all her problems perceive to be gone. The pregnancy and adoption problems are over and she and Paulie are in love. The mood in summer is happiness. In the ending scene, the mood is evident when they are singing in the early summer mourning without care of anything. This is also shown by Paulie’s ending devotion to track. Juno's experience, though she wasn't prepared for it, actually helped her become a more mature adult.