Chinatown Reading Response free essay sample

Jake Gittes, the anti-hero detective played by Jack Nicholson, chooses to ignore this vital clue, as do the audience. They make reappearance towards the climax of the film when Jake finds them in a saltwater pool at Evelyn Mulwray’s mansion and draws the wrong conclusion, his pride enforcing his clouded sight and the belief that â€Å"when you’re right, you’re right, and you’re right. † The glasses are cracked in the lens, a metaphor for Jake and the audience’s inability to see the facts clearly, causing them to make the wrong assumptions which ultimately leads to the tragic end of the film. The image system of blindness vs. seeing is also apparent in the flaw in the iris of Evelyn’s left eye. The flaw sets up the idea that the character of Evelyn herself is flawed, and the audience is initially distrusting of Evelyn because of this. We will write a custom essay sample on Chinatown Reading Response or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is only after the horrifying discovery about Katherine, that â€Å"she’s (her) sister AND her daughter† that Jake and the audience realise that they have been misled; she is possibly the only character who is trustworthy and honest. The final appearance of the image system of blindness vs. seeing occurs at the end of the film, the tragic climax. Evelyn attempts to flee Los Angeles with Katherine, but after shooting her father and murderer of her husband, Noah Cross in the arm, she is fatally shot through her left eye as she tries to escape. The consequences of Jake seeing too late were the death of the woman he was trying to protect and no justice for Noah Cross, no change because â€Å"he owns the police†. Evelyn was shot through her flawed eye, and this could suggest that her flaw, her imperfection created by the incest between Evelyn and her father had finally consumed her. Noah Cross covers the eyes of his daughter/granddaughter Katherine, not letting her see what he’s done, â€Å"she’s never going to know † and the cycle will continue. As the film progresses, the audience uncovers clues and works alongside Jake to solve the mystery. The image system of blindness vs. seeing both aids Jake and the audience as well as hinders them as it shows us things not seen before, but often not until it’s too late. The image system of blindness vs. seeing helps to create the intricate and complex nature of the mystery and is constantly reminding the audience to look deeper, look closer because their initial assumptions may not be correct. This image system creates the idea of covering up the truth because maybe things are better left alone, maybe by uncovering the truth, we are creating more problems with deadly consequences, and maybe we should â€Å"forget it it’s Chinatown. †