Post by mjunious on Jul 22, 2024 4:58:22 GMT
I never knew what this book was about, but have seen the cover art many times, so I was excited to learn the reason for the snake. Visually, I instantly thought of Saul Bass' style, which makes sense given that the story revolves around the film industry.
The snake imagery is brought up often by Maria, most notably in the beginning when she describes how, as a function of evolution, some species of snakes can look the same but one may be venomous, while the other is harmless. Then at the end, she says one of the two lessons she learned from her father was to be wary of snakes under rocks (something to that effect). From an existentialism perspective this is a great representation of dread. Maria, of course has countless things to feel dread of throughout the novel: the film in progress, the future of her relationship with Kate, the abortion, the list can go on. With her career in such a fragile place, with father time looming over her in a field where her age plays a significant role in the amount of professional opportunities for her, she does have to be on the qui vive of the snakes that surround her: her auteur husband, screenwriters, directors, agents, fixers...all of which it would be reasonable to question if they have her best interest in mind.
The snake imagery is brought up often by Maria, most notably in the beginning when she describes how, as a function of evolution, some species of snakes can look the same but one may be venomous, while the other is harmless. Then at the end, she says one of the two lessons she learned from her father was to be wary of snakes under rocks (something to that effect). From an existentialism perspective this is a great representation of dread. Maria, of course has countless things to feel dread of throughout the novel: the film in progress, the future of her relationship with Kate, the abortion, the list can go on. With her career in such a fragile place, with father time looming over her in a field where her age plays a significant role in the amount of professional opportunities for her, she does have to be on the qui vive of the snakes that surround her: her auteur husband, screenwriters, directors, agents, fixers...all of which it would be reasonable to question if they have her best interest in mind.
