Set It Off, Death of Cleo
"In my opinion, Cleo dies twice, and suffers the most violent death, because she is a woman who transgressed gender, race, and heterosexual norms unrepentantly."
Kimberly Springer, page 193 (of article)
I completely agree with this quotation and I believe that the film depicts this idea in great detail. Cleo is the definition of oppression in the American society. There are attributes that she could not control, she was born biologically a woman and African-American, however, she chooses to be homosexual. Already in our society, she is faced with hardships and unjust oppression. This oppression is from her boss, Luther when he calls her a gentleman, but also from her friends. Ironic as it maybe, Cleo's childhood friends cringe at the sight of Cleo's lover Ursula. Although there are no conversations of their distaste of Cleo's sexuality, their actions convey their ideas. Springer explains this same idea in her article "Waiting to Set It Off" on page 188. Springer explains, "Cleo's lesbianism is met with typical silence; but this doe not necessarily connote acceptance. In fact, such silences are complicit in maintaining the idea that, 'Okay, you be like that, but just don't bring it over here". It would be typical that her sexuality not be accepted by her boss or other males in the society; however, the lack of acceptance of sexuality by her friends is where the "first death" of Cleo is described. Contributing to this death is also enhanced by the fact that she is a poor, working African American woman. Her economic situation also is a part of her "first death."
Her second death, of course is the physical death of Cleo. The movie portrayed her as your stereotypical African American gangster; with the classic attempt to break through the blockade and then making the final attempt to take as many lives as she could. The final moments of her life we see her while getting bombarded with gunfire of the L.A.P.D. In my opinion, her physical death can also contribute to the metaphorical first death of Cleo. By killing Cleo, the L.A.P.D. also kills any chance for survival of any lesbian, African American woman. It quickly eradicates any hope for these individuals in our society. It is a quick way for the oppressor to rid the society of any "unwanted" characteristics.
Comments
I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment, but don't you also see her second death as being tied to the one-dimensional representation the film offers of a Black lesbian as at its most basic a Black man from the 'hood? I saw her death as all too similar to the eradicating of Larenz in the first portion of the film.
Posted by: Beth Chekola | October 29, 2006 12:41 PM