Comparison of Leading Womens Role in Portrait of Teresa and Salt of Sea - Case Study Example

Number] Comparison of leading Women’s role in Portrait of Teresa and Salt of Sea Every society has different values,traditions and perceptions regarding the role of women that fit within their historical, cultural and social contexts. The cinema being an important cultural institution and reflector of social values tends to depict the role of women in movies to refer their current status as well as to motivate them playing a non traditional role for some specified purposes. In the movies “Portrait of Teresa” and “Salt of the earth” also, the directors Pastor Vega and Herbert Biberman have presented the roles of women in quite encouraging manner to show the women’s potential of playing a revolutionary and defining role in setting up trends and growth directions of a society. The following essay aims to compare and contrast the role of Teresa as depicted in the movie “portrait of Teresa” with the role of Esperanza Quintero presented in the movie “Salt of the earth”. The essay analyzes the nature of the women’s roles presented in these movies and present an overview of the difficulties and problems these women faced that ultimately compelled them playing practical and struggling role in their societies. The essay strives to explain the contradictions and similarities in the characters of these two women. Furthermore, these characters are viewed from the spectrum of modern society to analyze the viability and prevalence of the directors’ philosophies and ideologies in the context of current social progression. Teresa and Esperanza Quintero Portrait of Teresa and Salt of the earth are both regarded as revolutionary films because in these films the directors have presented their perspective regarding the revolutionary roles of the women that can bring significant changes in their society. In Portrait of Teresa, the director Poster Vega describes the Cuban society and problems being faced by the women whereas in the movie The Salt of the Sea is Herbert Biberman attempted to portray the problems faced by the mine workers of minority ethnic community. In both of these movies, the stories take different turns due to the non-traditional and unexpected acts of the women; Teresa and Esperanza Quintero. These women were characterized with certain common qualities and at the same time, there are some basic differences in the situation they are dealing with and their decisions to get their problems resolved. The role of Teresa in the movie could be deem as a women fostering revolutions in the Cuban society because she raised voice in favour of women rights and struggle to gain them certain compensation and rights that were not commonly enjoyed by the women in Cuban society. For instance, Teresa raised voice for the female workers and requested in front of the union members that the working women should be allowed some compensation because after spending a tiring day they have to look after the children as well. This request of Teresa became the base for the construction of the day care centres. Thus, it is one of the revolutionary moves that were backed by Teresa initiative that not only benefited Teresa but proved to be a very helpful facility for the working women at large. The character of Teresa deals with the complex issue of men’s obligations in the homes and strives to set the women free from the prevailing double standards in domestic lives. Though the Cuban men are legally obliged to do 50 percent of household works if their wives work outside, but the film shows that the law is not truly implemented and followed by the Cubans and the women are still overburdened with outdoor and indoor responsibilities. Teresa emphasized upon the issue to make it prominent in front of the people and policy makers with the intention of brining some improvement in the situation. Esperanza in Salt of the Earth basically presents the typical women condition during the pregnancy when women like to have some relaxed time while staying at home rather taking part in outdoor activities. Esperanza also wishes to have some restful and hassle-free time during her pregnancy and shows her unwillingness to take part in the protesting activities fostered by her husband. However, she changes her mind and decision as per requirement of the situation and turned to be a resilient and courageous woman. When Taft-Hartley act enacts to force the strikers to end their protest without granting any compensation in health facilities and wages allocation, Esperanza decided to come out from her home and worked to encourage and motivate the workers. She joined the women picketing line and played a more strong and powerful role than men. Esperanza demonstrates that it is not necessary that the women should always look towards comfort and ease but they have to be firm and strict enough that they can face all the ups and downs of the life with courage and audacity. It is imperative for the women to play nonconventional roles in their lives otherwise they could never come over the dilemmas and obstacles posed by the social systems (Brian, p98). Contradiction and Similarities Teresa is the main female character of the movie Portrait of Teresa. The story places her in the typical environment of Cuban society. The film story tells that Teresa lives in a noisy plaza facing serious financial problems. She has to take care of three children and have to work to gain livelihood for the family. In order to meet her financial needs, Teresa got engaged in two different types of jobs. She works in the garment factory in day timings whereas at night she works with an amateur night group. Meanwhile, she has a major difficulty to face in form of her husband who uses to remain angry, mistrusting and jealous due to long hour work engagement and outdoor activities of Teresa. On the other hand, in the movie Salt of the earth Esperanza is presented as the wife of mine worker. Her husband organized the protest and strikes against the discrimination in wages distribution and health and safety measures at workplace. He raised voice for getting equal wages with that of the Anglo worker. Esperanza, however, has to face the unkind and harsh behaviour of her husband at home. She was shown pregnant with her third baby and during this time period, despite taking care, her husband forced her to take part in strike and protesting activities (Brian, p98). Thus, the basic setting of the stories of both of these films tells that Teresa and Esperanza were presented as the house wife facing serious financial problems. They both have to look after their children and at the same they have to face the unsympathetic and uncooperative attitude of their husbands. Their problems compel them to go out from their homes however; these women take these moves differently. Teresa started working in textile factory to earn money for her family whereas Esperanza took part in the protesting activities of her husband to encourage and motivate the mine workers in their struggle to attain their rights. The films place these women in different social setting. Teresa was a Cuban woman whereas Esperanza was a Mexican American facing the miseries and problems due to the prevailing ethnic inequity and discrimination. Hence, these women were different from each others with respect to their nationalities and ethnicity but what make them similar with each other are the weird attitudes of their husbands and the financial problems that forces them to come out from their homes and play nonconventional roles to assure better living for their families. Directors’ Perspectives and Viability to present day society The character of Teresa reflects the director’s perspective regarding the role of women in society that she ought to create balance between tradition and revolution. Through this character Pastor Vega expresses his perspective regarding the strength and capabilities of women that they can play non-traditional roles while remaining within the boundaries of traditions. The director presented aptitude and competence of women to create balance while performing different roles in their lives. Through the character of Teresa, Pastor Vega basically encourages and motivates the Cuban women while directing them towards new life dimensions. The character is presented as a role model for the women of the Cuban society as well as for the others facing similar obstacles and limitations. The role demonstrates the director’s desire to see women playing revolutionary and transformational roles in the societies deteriorating with predicament of mainstream traditions. Herbert Biberman presented the role of Esperanza in the movie Salt of the Earth as great source of encouragement and motivation for the women. The role shows that the director has firm belief upon the strength and capabilities of the women to make difference in the conventional situations. Herbert shows through this character that the women could take the society towards their intended direction and it is very important that women must act powerfully to robust the ongoing social process. The role of Esperanza is a symbolic character that shows the director’s willingness to witness minority women struggling and winning for their rights. Herbert wants that women should also fight with the men to secure their rights and better living standards for their families. The analysis of the characters of Teresa and Esperanza in the movies Portrait of Teresa and Salt of the sea reveals that these characters basically symbolize the strength and courage of women that can change the situations for them and has the potential to bring improvement in the situations prevailing in their societies. These characters are created in the contexts of some specific time periods that the world history witnessed some decades ago. However, the messages conveyed by the directors of these movies through these characters are convincing and bona fide even if viewed from the spectrum of current social progression (Brian, p98). Esperanza and Teresa worked for the resolution of some issues and problems that seem to defunct now, however all over the world the women are still facing these problems in different forms. It is a fact that even after decades, the double standards still exist in domestic settings of many societies and working women have to work harder them men in order to create balance in work and familial life (Brian, p98). Moreover, the exploitation of the rights of the minority workers is still in practice (Stanley, p333) Thus, the women of today also need to play an activist role to cope up with the social barriers and obstacles that affect the well being of their families and the entire society. Work Cited Brian Neve, Film and Politics in America: A Social Tradition, London, 1992 Portrait of Teresa (1978), Dir Pastor Vega, Cuba Stanley Aronowitz (1992), False Promises: The Shaping of American Working Class Consciousness (New York: McGraw Hill, 1973), pp. 333-4 Salt of the Earth (1965), Dir. Herbert J. Biberman, Harbor Electronic Publishing, New York Read More