MovieChat Forums > Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) Discussion > I hate that her family encouraged her to...

I hate that her family encouraged her to divorce him for that guy

posted 14 years ago by cheedo
10 replies | jump to latest

especially when they barely began dinner. She got her friggin' revenge on the poor guy (and don't think I'm defending what he did, but I did feel very sorry for him later on), then when he's still injured (even though healing) in front of everyone she decides to leave him. Not to center this around my personal beliefs, but I'm completely against divorce except obviously in very extreme cases such as murder or whatever. But that was cold and cruel, and just as they had forgiven each other. And don't say he deserved it so it;s OK- her mom had just told her about forgiveness. Funny, Perry always has Christian-y themes and Biblical quotes and such in his films, but I remember quite clearly that God hates divorce.

and inb4 some anti-Christian guy with a stick up their butt comes to argue. I ain't talking bout that, I'm talkin' bout the movie.

"I never confuse gentleness with weakness."

[–] wraith_fan_1 14 years ago

Charles pushed Helen into another man's arms and she fell in love with him. It took her a while to realize it, but she did finally once she was able to forgive Charles for what he had done. There is a big difference between forgiving someone and still loving them. The truth is, Charles kicked HER out and cheated on HER. She found someone else who was loving and caring and she deserved to be happy. It took some time, but she was able to feel those same feelings back to Orlando and once you fall in love with someone, you can't justify going back to your abusive, cheating, degrading, self-absorbed husband just to avoid divorce. The truth is that she didn't love Charles anymore because of how he treated her and kicked her out of the house. She found someone new and deserved to move on with her life and be happy. I was glad when she left Charles to go and find Orlando. Charles didn't deserve her after the way he treated her.

[–] ny756 14 years ago

The only thing i agree with you on was that it was jacked up to have done it at the dinner table in front of her whole family...hella awkward! Personally i think she could have at least done it in the privacy of his house instead of ruining sunday dinner like that lol.

As far as her leaving him- she didnt leave him, he left her! He is the one that asked for a divorce, he's the one that cheated and had 2 babies by another woman, he's the one who threw her out of the house. And i might add that NOBODY told her to go get with Orlando. That was her choice (though Madea praised her for it) Her mother told her specifically not to go playing with the next man while she was still married/harboring feelings for Charles. And Madea already knew they had been seeing each other so she was just stating facts.

[–] whitespirit26 10 years ago

Totally agree, ny; the way she did it was wrong, she was really insane.

[–] knowtheartist 13 years ago

That divorce happened at the worst possible time in the film.

Yeah, Charles deserved for Helen to leave him. But they had just experienced this incredible, touching moment in which Charles saw the light. He walked to the altar, as all of his friends were holding him.

In the next scene, the family was sitting at the table, praying and enjoying each other's company. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Helen placed the divorce papers on the table and left. What in the world? Where did that come from? It happened so randomly. I really do think Perry realized how long the movie was running and said, "Woah. We've got to wrap this up now."

[–] mykaysar 13 years ago

My first thought was why is she doing it at the beginning of dinner and in front of everyone? My second was why didn't she run to see Orlando AFTER dinner? That chicken looked good!

[–] Ghostwriter14 11 years ago

Yeah, in a way, I get what the OP's saying, speaking for myself, when I first saw this, I was totally rooting for her to go with Orlando and then when I re-watched it again, a part of me wanted her to get back with Charles as he had changed for the better and had come to the Lord (at least that's what I think it was portraying in the church scene). That being said though, I liked that it showed that choices have consequences and sometimes the consequence is the loss of something precious.

Uh-oh.
Not a word you want to hear in this house.
Catch ya on the flip side.

[–] fredherbert30 10 years ago

I think Helen ending up with Orlando is a reflection of the cycle of the characters. Charles would have to begin his life all over again similar to the way Helen did in the beginning. Charles would be alone, have no money, and have to figure out how to be along for the first time in eighteen years. I think Charles made it a long way by the end, but he obviously still had a lot of journey to go.

Whatever happened to predictability? The milk man? The paper boy? Evening tv?

[–] whitespirit26 10 years ago

..You're kidding, right? I'm still watching this and that hasn't happened yet. She does that to him in front of everyone after he repents??

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] mlaiuppa 10 years ago

Why against divorce? It's allowed in the bible. Did God tell you personally he doesn't like it?

She should have divorced him much sooner.

And taken half of everything before the girl friend cleaned out the accounts. (So, I guess you're OK with adultery even though it is a commandment violation?)

Sell that McMansion and take half of that too.

Plus alimony for any future earnings if he can still work.

After putting up with 18 years of abuse from him not only should she have divorced him but also taken him for everything she could. I'll bet she could have found a fantastic divorce lawyer that would have been more than happy to take on Charles just for the sheer pleasure of winning. I suspect Charles made plenty of enemies in his business life too.