Fatal Attraction Literary Elements

Fatal Attraction Literary Elements

Director

Adrian Lyne

Leading Actors/Actresses

Michael Douglas, Glenn Close

Supporting Actors/Actresses

Anne Archer, Stuart Pankin

Genre

Psychological Thriller

Language

English

Awards

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress - Glenn Close, Best Supporting Actress - Anne Archer, Best Film Editing

Date of Release

1987

Producer

Stanley Jaffe, Sherry Lansing

Setting and Context

Manhattan and Bedford, NY - 1987

Narrator and Point of View

POV is that of Dan

Tone and Mood

Serious and Dramatic

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonist is Beth and Dan (after his confession of the affair). Antagonist is Dan (first part of the film) and Alex.

Major Conflict

Dan begins an affair with Alex when his wife, Beth and their daughter, Ellen go away for the weekend to look at a new home to purchase.

Climax

Dan attempts to end the affair, but Alex won't allow it. She kidnaps Ellen for an afternoon and tries to kill Beth and Dan in their new home. Beth shoots Alex, killing her after Dan believed he had drowned Alex.

Foreshadowing

Jimmy saying that Alex has a "look that could kill" foreshadows the horror that is to ensue.

Understatement

It is understated as to whether Alex is actually pregnant or lying to lure Dan back to her.

Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques

N/A

Allusions

The film is an allusion to the casual nature to which both men and women enter into an affair. That regardless of their spouses finding out about their infidelity, there is a great price one pays for adultery.

Paradox

Both Dan and Alex agree to discretion in their affair. Paradoxically, Alex is unable to be discreet as all she desires is to be with Dan by any means necessary.

Parallelism

The closing shot on the photo of Dan, Beth, and Ellen parallels the opening shot that shows their apartment from a single window outside. It's the idea that this is just one family that this is happening to among many in society.

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