The Cook, The Thief, His Wife,

A detailed Summary of The Cook, The Thief, His Wife,


Peter Greenaway's controversial film, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover deals with infidelity, gluttony, and an insatiable desire for appetite. Through these elements, characters are brought to power as well as condemned to humility. This movie uses Charles Bressler's idea of the 'objective co-relative' and the way that it is used to imply an emotion or thought that a character is maintaining and brings it to the reader in a subtle manner. Also, Timothy Corrigan's idea of 'mise-en-scene' is used. This concept deals with the little elements of a film (lighting, costume, props, etc.) that when are either exaggerated and/or put together with another element of the film, reveal an implied theme or though much like the previous concept. Through these literary and cinematic ideas, the movie can be easily taken apart piece by piece.

In the scene where The Thief, Albert Spica, is looking for His Wife, Georgina, there is an element of 'mise-en-scene' that occurs. When Albert Spica finds out from his friend's girlfriend Patricia that Georgina has been sleeping around with Michael, he goes mad and in a fit of rage, searches for her, destroying whatever comes in his path. He begins first at the bathroom. This is where the distru


Greenaway, Peter. dir. The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. Perf. Michael Gambon,

ALBERT: Where is she Borst? Where is my wife?! (Greenaway 65)

ALBERT: You bloody know what's the matter - where's my wife? ... You know

ALBERT: You! Where is she? Where is my wife?

In that same scene while Albert thrashes food and silverware about, he desperately pleads to Richard "... Georgina is here somewhere! You miserable bastards have hidden them! My wife and that miserable book-reading jerk!" (Greenaway 66) Albert is so desperate. He realizes that he doesn't have the upper hand anymore and that Richard is now the boss. This angers him and we see his immature anger take hold of him as he destroys everything in sight. Ranting and raving like a madman, he imitates a child who doesn't get his way. Albert's evident distress is now tipping the scales with his anger.

RICHARD: What's the matter Mr Spica?



Some common words found in the essay are:
Georgina Michael, Richard Georgina, Albert Albert, ALBERT Borst, Timothy Corrigan's, Timothy Corrigan, Albert Throughout, Wife Lover, Albert Georgina, Patricia Georgina, cook thief, thief wife, cook thief wife, thief wife lover, wife lover, georgina michael, 'objective co-relative', lost property office, wife affair, affair spica, greenaway peter, spica lost, wife affair spica, property office, idea 'objective co-relative',

Approximate Word count = 1358
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Movies

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