Bright Star Butterflies
Posted on | November 3, 2009 | 2 Comments
I captured a white butterfly when I was about seven. I scarred her wings while I was trying to trap her. When I looked for her a couple of hours later, she was gone. I don’t know how she’d managed to get out of the jar. I’ve always been fascinated by butterflies, but I learned my lesson: it’s impossible to keep them. They’ll disappear.
In Jane Campion’s Bright Star the butterflies are a metaphor of Fanny’s attempt to harness her deep and desperate love for Keats. The butterflies’ beauty is desired, just like Keats’ love is desired. Fanny is indulging her own wildness at the expense of wildness-the butterflies don’t get to live a butterfly life trapped in a room. Fanny and Keats’ emotions are also stuck in a small room, and their love can’t be nailed down. Toots, Fanny’s younger sister is thrilled by the butterflies, but the reality of trapping butterflies is underscored by Fanny’s mother’s reaction. Take a peek:
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November 3rd, 2009 @ 7:16 am
I like “the reality of trapping butterflies is underscored by Fanny’s mother’s reaction.” Poor Fanny is not very close to reality, not very stable. Her mother is the ultimate realist, in part seen by the fact that she does not try to control Fanny, which would be impossible.
November 3rd, 2009 @ 10:06 am
I think her mother is admirable. Gives her gentle guidance, supports her, but lets her make her mistakes. Her mother completely understands her daughter.