Harold & Maude
It is apparent from the beginning of the 1971 film Harold and Maude, that our main character Harold Chasen has a preoccupation with death and suicide. As it begins, Harold is shown walking through the study, lighting a candle and then hanging himself. When his mother walks in and is unmoved by her discovery, she asks him if he thinks it’s funny, his slight smile indicates that yes, he think it’s very funny. On the surface, Harold and Maude is a delightful black comedy, but if you delve deeper you will find a compelling story about life and death. Harold is a very unhappy boy who attends funerals, drives a hearse and attempts to commit suicide in front of his emotionally distant mother, Mrs. Chasen. Even though the viewer is never shown Harold’s childhood, it is obvious that he grew up in a sterile, unloving environment. His attempts to commit suicide are pleas and a need to receive love from his mother. He indulges her with various elaborate faked suicides including a hanging, slashed wrists and throat, gunshot to the head, even drowning in the pool as she swims right past him. Her reaction to every attempt is startlingly unemotional and flat and reminds the viewer why Harold so desperately wants the attention and love he
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1224
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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