Essay Questions

What is the one thing that Nina is most eager to attain?

Nina is after the prima ballerina spot in the ballet company. She wants to be the best, but most of all she wants to be perfect. Nina desires to be flawless in her technique and every aspect of her dancing, but it is her need to be perfect which causes her to hold on so tightly and keeps her from achieving the next level of performance as she is unable to let go.

How is Nina stabbed?

Nina, at the end of her performance is seen losing massive amounts of blood. She has been stabbed...by herself. Earlier in the film she has an encounter with Lily who turns into Nina's doppelganger and she has a fight with her which leads to a smashed mirror and eventually to Nina stabbing the doppelganger, which is actually herself.

What does Lily represent in the film?

Lily has been brought on to be Nina's understudy for the lead role in Swan Lake. She has a quality that Nina does not, which is she is able to dance in a way that is uninhibited. Thus, she represents a quality that Nina does not possess, but needs in order to become the Black Swan, freedom from perfection.