MovieChat Forums > The River (1951) Discussion > What's troubling Melanie?

What's troubling Melanie?

posted 9 years ago by davethemathtutor
2 replies | jump to latest

At one point in the movie Melanie, the soft-spoken daughter of an Indian mother and an English father, remarks that she doesn't like herself. Later on, after the death of the child, she tells Captain John that they should consent to everything, rather than quarrel with things. He replies that in his case it was not a quarrel but a rebellion, and she responds that she once thought that hers too was a rebellion, but she knows now that it was only a quarrel.

What is she talking about? Captain John is clearly referring to the loss of his leg, but what was the quarrel/rebellion with which Melanie had to work so hard to come to terms? And why doesn't she like herself?

[–] irishaspaddyspig 8 years ago

She doesn't know whether to be English or Indian. She's adrift in 2 worlds to which she doesn't feel she completely belongs. An identity crisis.
She has lived the colonial life, but she knows she is not a part of that world in the eyes of both whites and indians.
She has yet to find her place in either society.

I think her use of the word "quarrel" reflects her inner turmoil.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] davethemathtutor 8 years ago

Yes, that makes a good deal of sense. Thank you for a very thoughtful and illuminating reply.