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Was Jasmine a victim, or part of the problem? (SPOILERS)

posted 10 years ago by bpollen
21 replies | jump to latest

I was talking about this movie with a couple of friends. It's been a while since I've seen it, but my recollection is that throughout the movie, an appearance (at least) is given to the audience that Jasmine is a victim. Her husband turned out to be a criminal and a fraud, as well as a philanderer. But then at the end, Jasmine says and does some things that revealed, to me, that she had known about the fraud all along, and had in fact supported it, since it was the basis of their wealth, which Jasmine was very much about.

My friends disagreed, saying that she had not known about the fraud, and that it was a total surprise to her, when it was revealed.

I guess I need to watch this again to refresh my memory, but in the meantime, can someone clarify that for me? Didn't Jasmine say or do something near the end that revealed (if you're really listening to what she's saying) she had known all along about the fraud that gave them their wealth? Or am I misremembering?

My friends said that, no, Jasmine remained a victim to the end. She had no knowledge that her wealth came from fraud.

I even have a faint recollection that her son (stepson?) was mean to her at the end, and realizing that was because he knew that she had known or participated in wrongdoing but portrayed herself to others as a victim.

[–] PeachMelba 9 years ago

I think that Jasmine was a victim, and part of the problem, simultaneously. You've got to wonder how Jasmine became so vapid in the first place. I wonder whether she was when she first met and married Hal, or whether it was something that developed over time?

In the end, she was part of the problem, but also a victim. She was part of the problem for obvious reasons, but also a victim, largely due to her dual addiction and behaviour, and a lack of proper, clinical intervention. The tragedy is that most people are busy living their own lives, or are embroiled in their own issues, so are not often objective enough to recognise when somebody needs proper, professional help.

[–] crissttigaldames 9 years ago

It's made completely clear that she knew about Hal's illegal activities, at least to some degree. She also figured they were substancial, or she wouldn't have called the FBI. She was looking the other way because she wanted the lifestyle, simple as.

And was her regret about making that phone call due to Hal, and due to the fact that it mean her losing everything?.

Now, I don't think she's a terrible person either, but not exactly a good one. Apparently never offered any help to her sister while she was living the high life. But she did care about Hal actually helping them make more money, and about her step-son not throwing his future away.

She musn't have been so vapid and shallow to begin with. She was close to graduating in Anthropology, let's remember. That's a brainy profession. It is sad how she just made the same mistake twice. She was studying hard to learn about computers and study to be an interior decorator. But the moment she met another man who could give her the lifestyle she wanted, she, again, dumped all of that.

[–] 9 years ago

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