The Piano: Point Taken

Point Taken

The Piano manages to trick most audiences into believing they see themes of feminism and empowerment of women, however when examined more closely, the film may be seen merely as a well done soap opera or Lifetime movie, packed with sensationalism. Director Jane Campion alienates the audience with the character of Ada, whose sociopathic and narcissistic tendencies can best be described as unrealistic.

Based solely on her actions and reactions to certain situations in the film, one can easily surmise that Ada is a sociopath. Her refusal to speak, even though she is perfectly capable of speech, ironically speaks volumes of her character. She demands special attention to suit her needs, yet denies herself of it at the same time.

This paradox becomes a reoccurring theme in the film. This is demonstrated at the simplest level in the scene in which Ada slaps Baines and hits him repeatedly, and then begins to kiss him. Sleeping with Baines was Ada's way of demanding her piano back. She not only wanted to obtain the piano from Baines but wanted her husband to understand just how important it was to her. She accomplished both things she set out to do, however once the piano was in her possession with no sexual stipulations, she almost stopped playing. When Ada did play, she played a sadder, more contemplative song. Eventually she drowned the very piano she had worked so hard to obtain.

One can easily understand the tribulations that a woman must go through with a planned marriage, but the fact of the matter is that Ada never gave Stewart a chance, she made up her mind before she even arrived. He provided her with a nice home and food, and attempted to love her, but she just pushed him away. Stewart's only misdoing was not understanding how important the piano was to her. Leaving it on the beach and selling it to Baines were economical choices. Stewart thought he was looking out for the well-being of the entire family, not Ada's personal needs. Some may point to Stewart's savage removal of Ada's finger as justification for her leaving him, however homicide is committed for less even today in America. His punishment was perfectly appropriate and likely widely sanctioned in the period of the film.

Ada is a narcissist. It becomes most obvious in a short scene in which she kisses a mirror. She had become obsessed with not only her playing ability, but her physical appearance. When she found that Baines lusted after her nearly to the point of rape, she became infatuated with herself and his animal desire for her. Ada even started to push her own daughter away, as Flora might stand to come between her love affair both with herself and Baines.

This film is seen by many as a feminist story of a woman rising above the subordination of men to