The Imitation of Life
Delilah Johnson: An Imitated Life
Imitation of Life can indubitably be considered one of the most moving and influential films ever produced in American cinema history. Based on the 1933 novel by Fannie Hurst, the movie is directed by John Stahl and stars actresses Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers; it depicts the story of two widows, one black and one white, who meet, become friends, and work together to obtain their piece of the American dream for their daughters and themselves (Flitterman-Lewis, 325). The two women’s success is countered by despair that is ultimately the result of their daughters’ actions. One mother looses the man that she loves when she realized that her daughter has become her rival for his affection, while the other is heartbroken by the hostility and ultimate rejection that her daughter displaces onto her as she attempts to cross the color line (Bougle, 57-59).
Imitation of Life made its box office debut 1934, a time during which the Great Depression and New Deal politics dominated the American social consciousness, and began to cultivate social liberalism (Bougle, 57). A noticeable shift in race relations began to occur; America appeared to be “doing away” with the violent and overt acts of racism of the past, however, in reality they were just being exchanged for more subtle and “socially acceptable” forms of racism (Bougle, 57-60). Imitation of Life appears to embody America’s newly found racial ideologies (hence the fact a black woman is depicted as having a close relationship with a white individual, in addition to overcoming the stereotypical poverty stricken life that many blacks of the time were accustomed to); however, upon close examination one can see remnants of pre-existing racial disparities. One of the most important and symbolic examples of the struggle between the black and white race can be seen in the relationship between the two mother figures in the movie. What appears to be, and maybe even starts off
Imitation of Life can indubitably be considered one of the most moving and influential films ever produced in American cinema history. Based on the 1933 novel by Fannie Hurst, the movie is directed by John Stahl and stars actresses Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers; it depicts the story of two widows, one black and one white, who meet, become friends, and work together to obtain their piece of the American dream for their daughters and themselves (Flitterman-Lewis, 325). The two women’s success is countered by despair that is ultimately the result of their daughters’ actions. One mother looses the man that she loves when she realized that her daughter has become her rival for his affection, while the other is heartbroken by the hostility and ultimate rejection that her daughter displaces onto her as she attempts to cross the color line (Bougle, 57-59).
Imitation of Life made its box office debut 1934, a time during which the Great Depression and New Deal politics dominated the American social consciousness, and began to cultivate social liberalism (Bougle, 57). A noticeable shift in race relations began to occur; America appeared to be “doing away” with the violent and overt acts of racism of the past, however, in reality they were just being exchanged for more subtle and “socially acceptable” forms of racism (Bougle, 57-60). Imitation of Life appears to embody America’s newly found racial ideologies (hence the fact a black woman is depicted as having a close relationship with a white individual, in addition to overcoming the stereotypical poverty stricken life that many blacks of the time were accustomed to); however, upon close examination one can see remnants of pre-existing racial disparities. One of the most important and symbolic examples of the struggle between the black and white race can be seen in the relationship between the two mother figures in the movie. What appears to be, and maybe even starts off