Essay Questions

What is the symbolism in Holly's home being burned down?

After killing Holly's father, the pair burn down her home in an attempt to make his death look like a suicide or accidental death. Malick shows Holly's room burning with dolls and her doll house inside catching fire and being destroyed. This is a symbol for the death of Holly's innocence. Gone are her days of being a girl untouched by the violence of the world. She now has become part of it and with that her days of innocence are over.

What is the significance of Kit being compared to James Dean?

James Dean is arguably one of the most famous people who've ever lived and everyone believes Kit looks just like him. The significance of this is that Kit's violence grows into a killing spree which ends in his capture. But unlike a criminal on the run he seems to appear as a famous movie star to people. One of the arresting officers is so excited that he looks just like Dean, and we watch as a father brings his child out to see Kit even pointing him out to the youngster. Finally we see Kit signing paperwork on the back of a policeman that seems to resemble him signing autographs before shaking hands with the lawmen responsible for his arrest. All of this represents the idea that America is enamored with violence to such a degree that we make murderers into heroes.

What is the connection between Holly's father shooting her dog and Kit shooting Holly's father?

Holly's father learns of her relationship with Kit and he doesn't not approve. So much so that he shoots and kills Holly's dog, dumping it in the river. When her father is approached by Kit with the reality that Kit wants to marry Holly, her father flat out refuses to allow it. This leads to Kit shooting and killing him and dumping his body in the barn. The connection is that both Kit and Holly's father have a very low capacity to deal with their emotions and it manifests into rage and acts of violence to the degree that they become murderous. So Kit and her father represent the generational violence that has permeated the country and has become "how you deal with things you don't like."