Blue Jasmine Literary Elements

Blue Jasmine Literary Elements

Director

Woody Allen

Leading Actors/Actresses

Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale

Supporting Actors/Actresses

Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg

Genre

Comedy-Drama

Language

English

Awards

2014 Winner, Academy Awards Oscar for Best Actress and Nominee for Best Supporting Actress for Hawkins, Best Original Screenplay

Date of Release

July 26, 2013

Producer

Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, Edward Walson

Setting and Context

Present-day, New York City and San Francisco

Narrator and Point of View

Jasmine Francis narrates the plot from a first-person perspective.

Tone and Mood

Depressed, Overwhelmed, Angry, and Funny

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist is Jasmine Francis, while the antagonist is the late husband Hal Francis.

Major Conflict

The financial ruin and public disgrace of Francises thrust Jasmine into a mental breakdown that only goes on a downward spiral. Attempts to put her life back on track fail miserably with her substance abuse and failing relationships taking a toll on her health.

Climax

The climax of the film occurs when Dwight breaks up with Jasmine in the car after finding out about her past, which she had concealed.

Foreshadowing

The opening scene with Jasmine on a public bench foreshadows the nervous breakdown that will worsen with time.

Understatement

Throughout the mental ordeal, Jasmine understates the magnitude of her financial hardship, mental stability, and the damage Hal did.

Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques

Allen works with uninterrupted shots and long takes that give a touch of realism that his films are usually known for.

Allusions

The film refers to the financial crises of the 21st century with allusions to the Madoff scandal and the 2008 Great Recession.

Paradox

Jasmine views herself as one of the victims of her husband’s crooked ways and financial ruin yet fails to see her role in the downfall.

Parallelism

While the film parallels the lifestyles of the upper-middle class with that of blue-collar America, it also briefly counterparts the lives of Jasmine and her stepson Danny.

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