“Anxiety, nightmares and a nervous breakdown, there's only so many traumas a person can withstand until they take to the streets and start screaming.”
The film takes us through Jasmine’s mental breakdown as she unsuccessful deals with the midlife crisis and the sharp turn her life has taken. She is a troubled woman on the verge of losing her mind, following the traumatic events in her past including disloyalties, huge debts, and a scandal. Worsening her situation is her use of anti-anxiety medication and alcohol to cope with the nightmare of a life that her world has become. The statement is a retort to her young nephew who recaps the instances when Jasmine had psychotic episodes in public. As such, she candidly explains to the child of her situation which she is self-aware of yet cannot do much about it. She is in free-fall since life has pushed her to the limits, and is incapable of bearing any more disappointments and misfortunes going forward.
“I'm... I'm living... I'm living like this! Because you married the biggest loser of all! And went your own sweet way! While he pissed away my one big chance to make a better life!”
Though Jasmine is aware of her worsening condition—both financially and mentally—she still holds herself to a higher standard. She harbors a superiority complex around her sister and the husband even though she is at their mercy. Hal, Jasmine’s deceased husband, gave her a comfortable life but at the expense of everyone else including her immediate family. With this in mind, Jasmine believes that she married well unlike her sister who ended up with a failure, according to Jasmine. In the statement Ginger finally stands up for her husband by saying it as it is about the letdowns on Hal and Jasmine’s part. This puts things into perspective for Jasmine as she realizes that she is indeed the one to blame for everything.
“I don't wanna see you, Jasmine. I want the past past. I've become a different person, thanks to my wife. I'm off drugs. Just please, don't spoil everything. Just get out of my life so I can move on.”
Every antic that Jasmine pulls proves that she continues to dwell in the past rather than assess her current situation. Although she shows an inclination to unlock her potential as a designer, Jasmine regresses to her freeloading self. Therefore, knowing the whereabouts of Danny deludes her that they can revert to their former relationship and maybe life. Conversely, Danny has embraced the new humble life he has built for himself and wants nothing to do with the past. In the quote, Danny quickly recognizes her situation—formerly being there himself—and tries to disassociate himself from Jasmine. For Jasmine, she is at an impasse, where she now either takes Danny’s route and move on or wallow in her misery.
