A Mother’s Influence
The Manchurian Candidate was released in 1962, in the mist of the cold war. The film offers an exaggerated, alternative reality in which US soldiers are brainwashed by a group of communist nations in order to infiltrate the American Government. Directed by John Frankenheimer, the film brings to light the subconscious fear towards Momism. Momism is defined as the over attachment of a mother to her child. In the film Momism is embodied through Raymond and Eleanor Shaw’s relationship. By employing composition, dialogue and an allusion to a historical figure one is able to understand the development of Momism and the effects it can have on an individual.
In the Manchurian Candidate Angela Lansbury portrays a mother who uses her brainwashed son to position her husband as the US president in order to grant the Soviets control over the nation. Throughout the film Raymond and his mother are characterized as having a complex…show more content… Her positioning resembles that of a schoolteacher scolding a child. Belittling Raymond she questions him and his actions in relation to his relationship with Josie. By constantly questioning an individual’s actions their self-esteem is splintered. Because Raymond has grown up with his mother questioning his every move he has grown feeling “inadequate and unable to engage in independent action”.
In its basic form Momism seems to be a viable and healthy relationship for a mother to have with her offspring. The Manchurian Candidate however presents Momism in its deepest and most destructive form. Attachment with family is seen as normal and healthy, but only if the attachment is based on love and mutual respect. In Raymond and Eleanor’s relationship; Raymond does not love his mother in fact he thinks she is a “terrible, terrible women”. Their attachment is instead based on an unnatural dependence Eleanor has conditioned Raymond to
