Treść książki
Przejdź do opcji czytnikaPrzejdź do nawigacjiPrzejdź do informacjiPrzejdź do stopki
FromBritain’sMostUnlovedQueentotheFavourite?
17
domineering,unpleasantlyfrank,andruthless-butatthesametimeemotionally
investedandsincere.Sarahusesherinfluenceforthesakeofwhatsheperceives
tobethegoodofthecountry(bypromotingherhusband’spartypolitics).
Attheendoftheday,however,sheoverplaysherhandandforgetsthatafter
allsheisonlyafavouritereliantontheQueen’ssupporttokeepherpower.
Ontheotherhand,Abigailispresentedasasweet,charming,andostensibly
caringunderdog-yetintimesheprovestobescheming,manipulative,and
egoistical.UnlikeSarah,shehasnohighermotivationthanself-interest.Abigail
hadexperiencedasharpdownfallinlife(herimpoverishedfatheractually
gambledherawayatcardsandthenburnedhimself,andtherestofthefamily,
todeathattheirhome),sohermaingoalistogainbackalostsocialposition,
evenifitmeansplayingdirty.SheflattersandindulgestheQueentogain
controloverher,andhasnoremorsepoisoningSarah.Sarah,however,never
stoopssolow;shealmostsacrificesherintegritywhenshethreatensto
blackmailtheQueen,butultimatelyburnstheincriminatingletters.“Wewere
playingverydifferentgames,”shetellsAbigailassheisbanishedfromthe
palace.Withoutalargervisionofhowtouseherpower,Abigail’svictoryis
empty.JustliketheQueen,whochoosesflatteryoverhonesty,sheisleft
heartbrokenfortherestofherlife.
AremarkablyfreshaspectofLanthimos’sfilmishisattitudetowardsthe
genderdynamics;inthediegeticworldofthecourt,itisthemenwhoare
sidelinedandornamental.Theirpositionisemphasizedbyridiculousoutfits,
make-up,hairstyles,diversions(duckracing,throwingfruitatanakedman).
Women’spower,ontheotherhand,isneverquestionednordiscussed;itis
anaturalpartofthepresentedreality.EventhelesbianaffairbetweenAnne
andSarahisonlyperceivedasapotentialscandalwhenthelatterthreatensto
publishtheexplicitletters.Still,womenfreelyusetheirfemininityandsexuality
tomanipulatebothmenandeachother.Thereseemstobequitealotof
contemporarycommentaryinthefilm-referringtothewaysinwhichpolitical
decisionsaremadethroughpersonalinfluenceontheruler,warningofthe
dangersofapolarizedpartysystemormoregeneralizedsocialinequality.
EspeciallyAbigailhashadfirst-handexperienceofhowtheworldtreatsthe
poorandtheinsignificant-shefeelsshecannotaffordtocareaboutanything
morethanherpersonalsecurity.“Ihavewon-Iamsafe,”shesays,yetshe
nevertrulyfeelssafe.Thefearofthelowerclassesaboutsurvivalandthefear
oftheupperclassesaboutlosingtheirstatuscreatesavagecompetition.
Anotherinteresting,iffictional,commentisprovidedthroughthesymbolic
useofthepetrabbits,whichthequeenkeepsasremindersofher17lost
children.Theanimalsbecomeasurrogateoffamilyaffectionshehasnever
known.Inamoreemblematicsense,therabbitsmightalsostandforthesubjects
oftheQueen-ubiquitous,butlargelydisregardedbythearistocrats.Thetwo
