Film Symbol Analysis

In “Dark Roots,” film functions as a symbol for fantasy in a relationship. The protagonist and Paul, who, significantly, first met at a film screening, are united by their connections to film; though it is not clear exactly what her job is, the protagonist works in the film industry in some capacity and Paul writes movie reviews to make ends meet. From the beginning of their affair, the protagonist associates their relationship with fantasy and unreality, even invoking the idea that every woman fantasizes about being the “Older Woman” in a relationship. She takes great pains to hide her aging and weight gain from Paul, believing that his interest will wane if he sees her natural self. Though the protagonist doesn’t say where she gets her ideas about being the “Older Woman” or what men find attractive, the reader can draw the conclusion that film, among other aspects of popular culture, has significantly shaped them, and thus that they’re rooted more in fantasy than in reality. The early invocation of film as the background for their meeting sets the stage for their relationship to be defined by illusion.