MovieChat Forums > Mona Lisa Smile (2003) Discussion > Should she have stayed?

Should she have stayed?

posted 9 years ago by Jane2005
4 replies | jump to latest

Should Katherine Watson stayed at Wellesley College?

-Jane

[–] idca 9 years ago

Should Katherine Watson stayed at Wellesley College?

I haven't seen this film in a while (I'm planning on rewatching it soon so maybe I'll return to this thread when I have) but I have still seen it several times and at least slightly recall feeling unsure of Katherine's character development. I remember sensing and wondering if Katherine had a fear of commitment (what do you think?), and, if that's the case, why the writers of the film still had the film end with her leaving Wellesley College. Because wouldn't that then be just another example of her running away from something that scared her and wanted her commitment? Or maybe Katherine doesn't really have any "problems" with commitment, maybe she just simply is someone who enjoys not having too many roots anywhere holding her down and it's not meant to be seen as a flaw at all.
I guess my answer to your question would depend on if Katherine is written to have commitment issues or not. If she does, I think the film should have ended with her staying at Wellesley for at least a while longer to possibly try and do some further long-term progressive changes at the school - and to further confront and maybe resolve things with Bill. Whatever happened with him? The last we see of them is her leaving him because he indirectly told lies that sure were upsetting and probably indicative of some personal problems and issues with self-esteem from his side, but still essentially harmless. Did she just leave him hanging? Did she give up on him, them, too easily?
If she's not written to have any problems with commmitment, and I just remember it wrong or interpreted things wrong, then I'm ok with her leaving Wellesley. If that's more in line with what makes her grow as a human being and is not about her running away from something that she should deal with.

[–] conway3000 9 years ago

No. She should not have stayed. They put too many rules on her. She was too adventurous to accept all of barriers imposed on her by Wellesley College.

[–] electrictroy 8 years ago

Yes she should have stayed. The 60s were only five years away, and the college became much more open during that time. A teacher of her talent would have finally fit in, and more importantly, she'd have a steady income (instead of collecting unemployment).

Sometimes all you have to do is wait patiently, and the rest of the world will catch-up to your ideals. The 50s were restrictive, but the 60s were much freer.

[–] ButterscotchCrumpetpatch 8 years ago

It's not as though she had a crystal ball at the time to tell her what the 60's would be like. We don't know what the 2020's will be like. She wanted to go to Europe and travel and have more experiences, and why shouldn't she have? Sometimes the world doesn't catch up with your ideals, and when it does it's often not a linear process.