Viewing Questions for The Wings of the Dove

 

Characters:

1.  We never get a clear "diagnosis" of Milly Theale's fatal illness in the movie (or in the book by Henry James on which it is based). What are the PHYSICAL symptoms the film gives us? (try to make a list of evidence.) What conditions are suggested by individual symptoms, even if they do not as a whole add up to a likely diagnosis?


 

2.  Why do you think Milly’s physical symptoms are rarely shown? How does the fact that her illness takes place “off-screen” affect our opinion/construction of Milly?

3. Why does Milly keep her illness a secret? (ref: Sontag) How do you think people in general would treat her if they knew about her illness? Why is it important to the storyline that Milly’s illness is kept a secret? What do you think would happen if her illness was publicly known?

4.  Moving away from physical symptoms to characterization, what kind of a character is Milly Theale? Considering the illnesses we have discussed so far-consumption (tuberculosis), cancer, and hysteria, what "illness personality" does her character most suggest? How does she hook up with the stereotyping that Sontag discusses?


 

5.  How is illness part of the rest of the story?  Specifically, how does meeting Milly help the relationship between Burton and Kate? How does meeting Milly hurt their relationship? And what difference does it make that she is sick?  (How would the story be different if she were well?)


 

(As you answer the above questions, absolutely think of the obvious ones-i.e. Milly has money, Kate needs money to marry Burton, Milly may be in a position of leaving her money to someone in the near future-but then go beyond that and see what else you get. )


 

6.  What does the opium addiction of Kate Croy's father (another kind of illness) add as a layer to the plot?  (Think of Kate Croy as someone who is inescapably bound to the fortunes, good or bad, of other people.)


 

7. Compare and contrast Milly and Kate Croy’s father. Does class contribute to the representation of illness?

8.  What importance does setting have to this plot? What kinds of things happen in London? What kinds of things happen in Venice? Why does Burton go back to Venice?

9.  How does the score contribute to the film? Select a couple scenes and note what kind of music is played and/or perhaps note when music is NOT played. How does silence contribute to the film?