The Piano - Character

I have chosen to focus on Ada as a character, because the complexity of her interests me such as how she is mute and no matter what, she refuses to give in and speak. She was forced into an arranged marriage, bargained her sexuality for her piano, and severely punished for expressing free will and desire. Throughout the film, Ada is shown as headstrong and determined woman who stands for what she believes in, even through all the terrible situations she experiences.

Ada is controlled all her life by her father. He makes her decisions for her regardless of how she feels, and this leads to the reason why Ada is mute. Ada feels trapped throughout the film and this feeling is shown to the audience at the beginning of the film (0:1:03) where Ada's point of view is shown with her hands in front of her face, representing what visually looks like she is looking out of a prison or a cage. This causes the audience to feel trapped, much like Ada feels. Later on, she says about her muteness that "My father says it is a dark talent, and the day I take it into my head to stop breathing will be my last." This is foreshadowing the later scene in the film where Ada attempts suicide, but realises that she doesn't want to believe what her father says, and she decides to live instead. Ada's petticoat under her dress is representing the cage that she is trapped in by society, where all the women were made to wear the Victorian style dresses in that era. The dress makes Ada feel trapped in her role as the ideal woman, mother and wife. The dress becomes a barrier to Ada where she chooses who's allowed to come in. In the film, it shows Ada also using the dress as protection for her daughter, Flora, as she keeps her warm under the dress. We see her break free of her expected role when she chooses to use the petticoat as a shelter rather than as a dress, demonstrating to the audience her practical nature and her desire not to succumb to the role being imposed on her. It shows Ada's refusal to be affectionate towards Alisdair, her husband. After that scene, Alisdair says to Ada "I clipped your wing....that's all", referring to Ada as a bird trapped in a 'cage' which is her skirt and the petticoat underneath it. Ada is like a bird in a cage as she is never free - she is never allowed to do what she wants, she's always controlled by the men in her life whether it be her father, Alisdair or Baines. The bird idea is shown later in the film where Ada and Baines are leaving and a shot is shown of a bird flying in the sky, representing Ada and her newfound freedom as Alisdair let her leave and she is with the man that she loves - she has the life that she's always wanted.

Ada is a strong willed woman, and this is shown when Alisdair is about to chop off Ada's finger and he yells to her "You make me angry, speak" but she still refuses to answer him even if it will save her life. She continues to be mute throughout the film, no matter what. When her finger is chopped off, she doesn't yell or scream in pain, she stays calm and composed, no matter how angry she is at Alisdair. Even her facial expressions remain neutral, even though the audience can see she is in pain through her actions. This is shown when Campion does a close up shot of Ada's hands holding together, showing her bleeding finger after it's been cut off and this shows the audience the pain that Ada is feeling through her actions. This scene truly shows the strength of Ada and how determined she is to not give in to men. The film addresses many gender roles and expectations during this time period. Women were expected to be submissive and agreeable, and to create a peaceful household for their husbands and children. In some ways, Ada's character was the perfect woman: beautiful, talented and silent. Her piano was her voice and her way of expression, and eventually men robbed her of that as well.

Ada makes her first real decision when they are leaving the west coast and travelling to Nelson. A close up shot is shown of the rope being thrown into the waka, foreshadowing that something is going to happen with the rope. Ada sees the rope being pulled down with the piano and decides to put her foot in the centre of the rope, causing herself to be dragged down underwater. She remains still underwater, waiting for her death. During this moment, she decides that she would be doing what her father said she'd do - take the dark talent (her muteness) to her head to stop breathing. She contemplates her life and realises that she has a good life ahead of her - she has a daughter and a loving partner. She fights her way to the surface and lives on. This scene shows Ada made her first major decision - if she should live or not. It's interesting how even though Ada had now reached the 'perfect' life with the 'love of her life' as they ride away into the sunset, yet Ada was still unhappy enough to attempt suicide. Campion could've been commenting on the role of women in todays society - while things have improved, we're still not where we'd like to be. In the film, Ada mostly wears her hair tied back and away from her face, showing she is uptight. She only begins to wear her hair loose when she has decided she loves Baines. This shows she is at ease and happy. It also makes her look more feminine and shows her settling into her version of the role of a wife. Ada lives on happily, where Baines has made her a metal finger which represents a wedding ring, demonstrating the affection Baines has for Ada. However, the light metal clanking sound remains an everlasting reminder of the past. The film ends with Ada living in Nelson with him, learning to speak again.