What happened to Helen?
I am confused. I really thought that maybe Helen had a chance or somemthing. Why did they cut her out of the end? Her story wasn't resolved. Did I miss something?
shareIn the original C.Y. Lee novel, Helen actually commits suicide. But Rodgers and Hammerstein felt her character was too strong to die, so they simply had her leave gracefully when she realised there was simply no chance that Ta would ever see her in a romantic light.
shareOh my god. Are you serious? Wow, they were smart to leave that out. Poor Helen.
shareI like to think that she found a good man, who was worthy of a good woman like Helen. In the final scene, I always expect to see her at the wedding, but why would the poor woman torture herself? I expect she had to content herself with Mei-Le as Ta's wife -- much more palatable, I would think, than Linda Low, who used Ta. So despite C.Y. Lee's take, I prefer to think that Ta's rejection propelled her to move on.
Happy Chinese New Year -- a wonderful time to revisit FDS, particularly since the New Year is celebrated and an integral part of the plot.
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
The only wedding was supposed to be Sammy Fong to Mei Li, so why would that have "tortured" Helen?
shareAnd don't forget, in the "Love Look Away" Ballet, Helen dreams that she and Ta fall in love, but his head is turned by a prettier woman and a nastier side of Ta's personality is revealed.
Even though that might not have happened in reality if Helen and Ta did become a couple, she decided not to take the risk.
The fault lies in having Helen portrayed by such attractive women as Arabella Hong (on Broadway) and Reiko Sato (on film). In the novel, she is a lonely, plain, pock-marked seamstress who is so desperate for Ta's attention she even goes through a not-completely successful "face-sanding" process (evidently common for Chinese pock-marked people at the time). When Ta realizes the depth of her feelings and his inability to return them, it turns his amiable friendship into revulsion. It's not only Ta's disinterest (and eventual rejection) that drives Helen to suicide, but her overriding sense of loneliness and despair. Rodgers and Hammerstein not only spared her this fate (as much as we know)- they also gave her the best song.
shareYes, you're right - I remember reading the novel years ago. Reiko Sato (in my opinion) was the most attractive of all the female leads in the movie and she was badly miscast in the role of Helen, who was supposed to be very plain.
In any case they didn't resolve her character after her big number "Love Look Away", which built up a huge sympathy for her character, thus leaving rather a large hole in the plot.
That's a very good point, mkolln. I never thought of that, but now that I think about it, I suspect you're right. Justoldbill, thanks for a very interesting post. Excellent insight, as usual. I am in Nest mode, so I apologize to both of you if you receive e-mail notifications.
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
That was a racy scene where she takes a drunken Ta back to her place and the immigrant girl thinks he slept with her when she sees his jacket on her chair the next morning.
shareYes, that's true, but then why was Linda Low there? Why were Ta and his family there? By extension, Helen might have been there as well, at a wedding, with her beloved Ta, looking very dashing, in attendance. Evidently, she's not, for whatever reason -- as bill points out, R&H spared us and we're able to draw our own conclusion. As I said, I like to think that she was motivated to move on.
Finally, why are you, consistently, churlish, unpleasant and an overall pain in the arse? In the end, it's a double wedding , if you want to parse every damned thing.
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
Your overreactions to my posts are quickly crossing beyond the line of sanity. I recommend a strong sedative.
shareAs it happens, I'm a very calm person. I recommend you learn some manners. Speaking of strong sedatives, stop being such a big pill yourself.
Apart from that, you're okay by me. It's what happens when two very opinionated people collide. Pax vobiscum!
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
My manner is my manner. If you have a problem with it, use your Ignore option.
shareI don't put anyone on Ignore -- that's a cop out to me. Besides, I do like reading your posts, irrespective of whether I agree or not, so why would I do that?
I suggest we just drop it - we've each had our say.
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
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