He is so different than the Mother or the brother and didn't really seem to show the obvious hate/indifference in the way that they did. Could they have made it happen? Would his family get in the way? This is all assuming that she had not found true love thru Devinnier.
shareYes, Oliver and Belle, in a universe without his family, could have worked out just fine. Oliver was smitten by her before knowing she had any wealth, then after his mother found out she had an inheritance, there was this push and shove to marry her. Oliver would have asked for Belle's hand on his own in due time anyway... that's how much he liked her.
Both men Oliver Ashford and Devinier were good matches for Belle. It's just that Ashford's family attitude about her color was such a poison pill.
Both men Oliver Ashford and Devinier were good matches for Belle. It's just that Ashford's family attitude about her color was such a poison pill.
I disagree. If you recall, the deciding factor for Dido was Oliver's comment regarding her mother's blood line being 'disregarded' as well, he referred to her white half as her 'better' half as to further perpetuate the sentiments of his brother and mother. Thereby canceling out any feelings of 'perfect' when describing the feeling of being engaged to Oliver.
Although he may have been smitten with her...physically, his inbred disdain for her African side would have eventually reared its ugly head. I don't think he would have withstood the pressures of family and society based on his physical attraction alone. Remember his comments to his brother about tasting exotic flowers...all physical.
However, on the other hand, John refers to Dido's mother as 'beautiful' and clearly showed a respect for her African heritage. This makes for a long lasting relationship.
In addition, I do think Dido's dowry played a role in Oliver's decision and I don't think he would have married her otherwise. It really made me think when John made that very statement which also made an impact on Dido reconsidering her situation.
Who would marry someone who wanted to disregard her mother or find one half of her shameful. She expressed this very passionately in the scene where she put her potential mother-in-law in check beginning with the line "...I have a tongue".
QofH3arts
If you recall, the deciding factor for Dido was Oliver's comment regarding her mother's blood line being 'disregarded' as well, he referred to her white half as her 'better' half as to further perpetuate the sentiments of his brother and mother.
For the period of time this was set in, I think Oliver was much more liberal than the majority of his fellow man at the time. I think their relationship would have worked, as he did seem to be smitten with her before the money. And because she's the second son with no fortune, he had more freedom to marry how he pleased.
Of course his comment about her black side being forgiven was his ultimate downfall, that and his awful family.
This. He also said something about her being 'unrelentingly cultured' like it was such a shock for someone of her...illegitimacy. It's all about those microaggressions.
Wildcattin'...Wildcattin'. Pow! I'm gonna go.
I felt like he didn't respect her as an equal like Davinier. He viewed her as an exotic woman, knew that she had money, and despite finding her as an "exotic beauty" he saw her black side as a handicap. Although Oliver Ashford was friendly, he objectified her.
Davinier loves Belle for yearning knowledge and for being a team towards abolishment.
I felt like he didn't respect her as an equal like Davinier. He viewed her as an exotic woman, knew that she had money, and despite finding her as an "exotic beauty" he saw her black side as a handicap. Although Oliver Ashford was friendly, he objectified her.
Agreed. He spoke of her mother as though he was forgiving Dido for having a mother who was black, and had been a slave.
Nah. He loved the novelty. You can bet that would have passed real fast. He didn't care about her or who she was. Her money was a good excuse to get the "latest thing" but he didn't love her.
For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco
He himself without pressure talked down to her African roots...
So no.
Well :/ Certain parts of the film kinda stumped me.
On one hand, in the scene in the carriage where Lady Ashford is talking to her sons about Elizabeth, James insults Dido and then Oliver glares at him almost as if he wanted to defend her. I thought he may have been genuine for Dido.
But then in the scene were he and his mom were furious about Dido breaking off the engagement, and she calls her a "Mulatto charge". Lady Mansfield said that's enough and Oliver goes "Is it not true?" in a really snide tone. That turned me off big time and was disappointed as his typicality.
So, ultimately... I think it was a lustful want when it came to Oliver Ashford. Not really respecting Dido as a human being.
I think he was infatuated with her because she was different. Whose to say if he really loved her.
We accept the love we think we deserve
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At the same time maybe john was infatuated with her by his need to prove how progressive and open minded he is
shareOliver had genuine feelings for Belle. He cared for her or was infatuated with her/saw her as exotic, etc. It wasn't an act. BUT he never would have seen her as an equal as John would (and did), evidenced by the contrasting ways in which they both spoke of Belle's mother. I won't recap that because several earlier posters said it well, but just agreeing with that notion.
shareJust seen this film and it seemed to make apparent that Ashford saw her as a fetish, openly disparaged her black half and whose attraction seemed fuelled from objectification by him.
He was willing to marry, sure (but that is of the time, as I doubt boyfriend and girlfriend was allowed back then, just courting for marriage), but he would have probably grown tired after sampling his 'exotic flower'.
Doesn't help that his brother and mother were poison and life with him and his family would be a terrible fate.
She made the right choice.
George Lucas talking about: 'Hey, give it to me, I'll fix it. I'll make 20 more of them'
I'm surprised by some of the comments made here about Mr. Ashford.
Did the guy love Belle?? Yes, he did. Physically and emotionally she stirred him. It's really not completely his fault that he thought her African heritage was like a handicap to her. If they married and had children, you never know, he would have learned more about her and the African people. He was obviously NOT a racist.
Most men even in today's time are all about fetishes. Rice eaters, Asian fever, Jungle fever, etc... proudly saying so, but in the end many still marry those exotic flowers because that's just THEIR type.
Davinier was a great match and a decent person, but Belle was so educated and smart that both men would have been a good match for her.
I AM DEE BEE -- 10 years !