MovieChat Forums > Ghost World (2001) Discussion > What do you think Enid would really have...

What do you think Enid would really have done?

posted 5 years ago by kellycallie (728)
9 replies | jump to latest

Excluding the directors choice for her to suicide (very much hinted). I think she would have been the type of girl to continue to live with and off of older men. Though she wasn't ''perfect'' looking and a little overweight she would have no problem getting seymor types. Her personality hinted she felt too good or couldn't handle/wouldn't show up for a job in the workforce and she seemed to scoff at the idea of attending any type of college. If she did attend anything it wouldn't be for long.

Despite her punkish/eccentric appearance and the faux attempt to paint her character as borderline feminist artist I think this was just an act, she had the evolving princess personality that expected to be taken care of by someone or wanted to be. I've watched this movie several times and the Enid character is nothing like she seemed at first glance. You have to watch the movie a couple times before you figure out who she really was.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

No, I dont think she would have lived off men as a first recourse, she just wasnt one of those women who go through life thinking "If you want something done, get a man to do it for you". Of course she wouldn't automatically turn down an offer to live off someone else, but if someone did, I think she'd have been ungrateful and have messed up the relationship before long.

No, if she had a future, I think she'd have spent it working crap jobs, maintained her artistic pretensions, and moved back in with her parents every time she lost a job or a man.

[–] Enigmaticocean77 (2134) 5 years ago

I think that you are spot on with your analysis of Enid. At first glace she comes across as a strong, and opinionated young woman, but as the story unfolds she just winds up being a user, and a do nothing.
I never really liked the ending "suicide" vibe that is presented in the film. I wasn't expecting someone with Enid's personality to go off, and have the greatest life ever, but I didn't expect her to off herself just because she didn't really fit in anywhere.

[–] kellycallie (728) 5 years ago

A girl like Enid was not going to suicide - despite what the director hinted, the character didn't match up to doing this. She was going to ''use'' others. She might of not been very rich but she was certainly spoiled and her father allowed her to do anything she wanted. Take the scene where he brought up the idea of her checking out colleges very meekly afraid to offend her and she scoffed it off. She didn't respect her father at all.

She didn't want to work, didn't want to go to school and saw the idea of living off of a man as an alternative (especially mid way and towards the end of the film).

The friendship died with her best friend because the other girl became attune to exactly who she really was and who she was going to be. She didn't want to put up with a person like this.

[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

People seem to think Enid's character was etched in stone and she would continue to be the same person she was as a recent high school grad. She's smart but she's confused. She thinks she's sophisticated but she hasn't had a lot of experience. I have no idea how her life might have turned out, but it bothers me when everyone seems to want to gang up on her and make her out to be a user. She's barely an adult.

[–] slimone (7996) 4 years ago

Do you really think that Enid committed suicide???

[–] holly61 (902) 4 years ago

''Enid'' was one of the earliest Millennial's (18 in 2001) this film is basically an omen for the entire generation. I don't even think the filmmakers intended this either. She doesn't want to be apart of the rat race, as the film progresses she realizes her depressing place in the world and that life is hard and requires effort. Her friendship fails because the other girl moves on with her life, getting a job, an apartment and meeting new people. Enid can't adjust and just gives up. Suicide is a possibility. In terms of living off men to live rent free.. not that far off either.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] xanthas (3215) 3 years ago

But she didn't end up moving in with Seymour and "using" him. I'm hopeful that Enid continues to mature, evolve, and find something meaningful to do with her life. She is still very young and meeting Seymour changed her for the better.

[–] capuchin (2721) 3 years ago

I never read it that way. And was surprised years later when so many people thought Enid going off on the bus was a suicide metaphor.

She sees a 'miracle'. The bus that's being patiently waited for, but she cynically believes is never going to come, actually does arrive. There's hope in that.

And then she moves on into the great unknown. I thought it was an ambiguous but optimistic ending. I thought Enid was going to be OK.

And both Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff view it that way too, although neither one of them denies the suicide thing is a valid interpretation. They're both just a little shocked by it, as it wasn't what they intended.