I have read threads about the characters ages. I just think it is more generational then exact age. But I have a question. Is the Jackee character suppose to be the Ophra characters contemporary. Because she looks a lot younger then the Ophra character, but I always thought they were about the same age.
shareHate to put it this way but Etta Mae (Jackee's character) does a great job in keeping herself up and do not let time or circumstances define who she is. On the other hand Mattie (Oprah's character) lets herself go, worries about Basil or at least holds a 20 year grudge, and refuses to talk to men because of one bad experience she had when she was 16. This ages her tremendously. And no she is not her contemporary. They have been friends before she had Basil. So we know they been knowing each other for a long time.
shareI agree with you. What I mean by being contemporaries are they about the same age. I think so from your answer. They can't be far apart in age. I liked when she told Mattie what she thought about her being so judgmental. What bothered me was Mattie was made out to be almost saint like, a martyr and Etta they made her into some type of man chasing easy woman. I do not think keeping yourself up makes you into a strumpet. But some how in the movie it does place a so called stigma on the women who dressed and looked good. Example the Lesbians and the Robin Givens character. Strong women in my eyes but in the movie they were ostracized, either by a parent or the neighbors. Even the character whose baby was killed. She came back dressed to the nines and they refer to her finding a man. I guess we only get dressed up to look for a man.
The Mattie character really got me mad. How blinded she was about her son. Anybody even mothers who spoil their sons when it comes to murder is another story. They know they are dead beat sons. Oh and I think she let herself go way before Basil showed up. She let herself go as soon as she got pregnant. She turned into a middle aged woman overnight.
I totally agree with everything you said. I know this post was made four years ago..LOL. However, what you said made a lot of sense. I am the tmarks user that corresponded with you during that time.
What brought me back to this board was my recent viewing of the Women of Brewster Place. To be quite frank with you, Mattie's character disgusted me to a point. It was as though she thought God was punishing her forever and ever for having sex just that one time out of wedlock. As a result, she decided to dress three decades ahead of her time. You made some very valid points about the women who decided to dress decently. I do not have to add anymore to that. Well said.