Finding Life and Love at a Funeral

            The film, Harold and Maude, explores many of the darker, more somber aspects of American society during the 1970’s.  The main character, Harold, is misunderstood by everyone around him, until he meets 79 year old Maude who understands him. She teaches Harold how to appreciate life and love others. Over the course of this movie war and the detachment of American society are criticized and the ideas of love and the meaning of life are explored.

            War is directly criticized through Harold’s uncle, Victor. Harold’s mother explains, before we are introduced to him, that Uncle Victor was General MacArthur’s “right hand man.” This is morbidly amusing because Victor only has a right hand. He cares about nothing but the army. When he is trying to convince Harold to enlist he begins telling him war stories and excitedly goes along with Harold’s disturbing questions such as: Will they teach me to shoot? Will I get to kill another man? Will they teach you how to slit his throat? His uncle zealously answers all of these questions, until Harold crosses the line by asking about “souvenirs.” Most people would have been horrified by Harold’s excitement at the thought of killing people, the fact that his uncle is equally excited is a criticism on the effect that war has on the way people view violence. Victor is also a representation of the people who live for the army, the people who give up their personalities and individual wills to serve the army. The war is not the only thing wrong with American society. There is a huge gap between societal groups during Vietnam: the lower classes, which are drafted and forced to fight, and the upper-class, who are indifferent to the war and everything else for that matter, since they can avoid military service The upper class is criticized through Harold’s mother, who cares about nothing but society and being in the midst of everything fashionable. Harold is listless and when he realizes that the only way his mother will care about him is if he dies, he decides that he would rather be dead. He is constantly faking suicides and attending funerals for fun. He sees a psychiatrist routinely but he never changes. In contrast Harold’s whole life is turned around in a matter of days by Maude. Through this, I believe, that the filmmakers are criticizing the upper-class for their unfulfilling and material lifestyle.

            Harold and Maude also explores the ideas of love and the meaning of life. At the beginning of the film, all Harold wants is his mother’s attention. He stages one fake suicide after another, but she simply dismisses him as childish and annoying. When friends are over she talks about Harold incessantly, but she does so in a bragging way not a loving way. In Maude, Harold finds a non-judgmental person who listens to and understands him. She wants Harold to be happy, whether that means being fashionable or not. By simply taking an interest in Harold, his likes, dislikes, and wellbeing she shows that she cares. This affects Harold so profoundly because no one has ever cared about him before. She teaches him what it is to love and be loved. Maude also teaches Harold the meaning of life. Before meeting Maude, Harold seems to have no desire to live, but her outgoing personality and flair for life teach him to have fun and enjoy his life. Everything Maude does is due to her love of life. She goes to funerals because she finds the life cycle interesting, she loves plants because they exhibit the cycle of life and death perfectly, she has fun and laughs and dances and makes music so she does not waste her life. Despite all of the hardships she has been through, she pushes forward and makes the best of a situation. When Maude dies it appears that Harold has lost his new found will to live as his car goes plunging over the edge of a cliff. Yet the camera cuts to the top of the cliff and we see Harold meander away with his banjo, given to him by Maude, and the newfound will to live, love, and make the best of his life. This final suicide and the act of leaving his car both symbolize Harold finally leaving his past behind to make way for a newer, happier life. Maude is such a loveable character who can endear herself to anyone. By creating a character with which the audience can empathize and love the film is more capable of conveying its meaningful messages about love and life.

            In essence, Harold and Maude is a coming of age story about a young man who learns to live and love in a country overrun by involvement in war and a materialistic, unconcerned upper-class. While Harold and Maude is a comedy film and messages are implied through the satiric representations of societal situations and humorous portrayals of characters, this movie conveys messages through means other than humor. By moving and shocking the audience it conveys different sides of the issues presented. Such uses of pathos prove to be just as rhetorically effective as comedy.