Chinatown Essay Questions

What role does conspiracy play in Chinatown?

Chinatown revolves around the major theme of conspiracy, which involves a group secretly planning to commit unlawful or harmful acts. The film draws inspiration from the California Water Wars, where underhanded deals and sabotage were prevalent. Jake Gittes, the protagonist, accidentally uncovers a high-level conspiracy involving collusion between Water Department officials and private citizens working for Noah Cross. The conspiracy aims to create a fake drought, construct an unnecessary dam, and force farmers off their land to incorporate the land into the City of Los Angeles. When Hollis Mulwray threatens to expose the scheme, murder becomes necessary to maintain the conspiracy's secrecy. Jake eventually discovers Noah Cross's involvement, but he realizes that Noah's power is too great to face prosecution. This highlights how deeply ingrained the conspiracy is within Los Angeles society, making it impossible for one honest person to dismantle.

What role does trauma play in Chinatown?

As one of the film's major themes, trauma, defined as the long-lasting emotional distress that stems from a deeply disturbing experience, plays a significant role in Chinatown. Polanski delves into this topic explicitly in the post-coital conversation between Jake and Evelyn. As they smoke cigarettes in bed, Jake alludes cryptically to his traumatic past in Chinatown while working for the District Attorney, when his efforts to help a woman ended in unforeseen harm. The theme resurfaces when Evelyn reveals that she bore a child as a teenager, fathered by her own father Noah, and has been concealing her trauma ever since. Jake realizes that Evelyn's evasiveness and deception are defense mechanisms triggered by her trauma's associated shame. The film ends with Evelyn's death and Katherine's placement in Noah's care, causing Jake to relive the trauma of his last time in Chinatown, where his effort to protect a woman once again led to her harm.

What role does powerlessness play in Chinatown?

The theme of powerlessness plays a significant role in Chinatown. The film depicts Jake striving to uncover the truth about Noah Cross's conspiracy to enrich himself and his associates at the expense of ordinary citizens, who are powerless to resist. Simultaneously, Evelyn endeavors to flee from her abusive and murderous father and begin anew with her daughter in Mexico, free from Noah's grasp. However, the film's conclusion reveals that Jake's efforts are in vain because Noah wields too much influence within the system. Likewise, Evelyn's escape attempt ends tragically, leaving her dead and Katherine alone with no guardian other than Noah. The theme of powerlessness is encapsulated in the movie's iconic closing line, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown," spoken by Walsh, who implies that Jake is helpless now, just as he was during his previous encounter with corruption in Chinatown.

Why is it significant that Jake's nose is wounded?

The cut on Jake's nostril that he receives while investigating the Oak Pass Reservoir is a symbol of the personal danger inherent in his profession. As a private investigator, Jake's job is to keep an eye on people suspected of unethical conduct, such as unfaithful spouses. However, with Evelyn Mulwray's case, Jake becomes embroiled in a complex web of high-level corruption, involving murder and conspiracy. When Mulvihill and his henchman catch Jake investigating the Oak Pass Reservoir, they slash his nose as a warning to stay out of others' affairs and stop sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.

Why is it significant that water is being dumped at night from reservoirs?

In Chinatown, the water Hollis Mulwray discovers is being covertly dumped serves as a symbol of high-level corruption and conspiracy. Taking place during a drought in Los Angeles, the film shows Jake uncovering the truth that Hollis was killed because he discovered that Noah Cross was behind a plot to release thousands of gallons of water from reservoirs at night, creating a false scarcity and garnering public support for a new dam project. As Jake delves deeper, he discovers the dumped water is just a small component of Noah's plan to purchase farmland and integrate it into Los Angeles, making an already wealthy man immeasurably richer. To achieve his aims, Noah manipulates a public resource, exploiting powerless common people for private gain.