Freedom by all means, even through Death
Comparing Set it Off and Thelma and Louise:
How is the road as a symbol of freedom accessed?
The road in both films lead to a better place: a place where there are hopes for happiness. The road takes them away from the system that has done them no good, they have given up on trying to change things in the society they live in. If they are able to reach the road they can leave everything behind ( the people that have treated them unfairly, the system that has discriminated against them for race or gender). The four women in Set it Off have dealt with whatever they were handed and accepted it, but there comes a breaking point where they have no where to turn and no hope left for a happy future (When Stevie dies, Frankie loses her job on false accusations, and when Tisean's child gets taken away). Same goes for Thelma and Louise, they have lived for so long being okay with how they were treated but they also reach a breaking point (no one would believe that Harlan was going to rape Thelma). These women look to the road to take them away, give them options that are not offered to them where they are currently at. In Thelma and Louise they get on the road but struggle to remain on the road, whereas in Set it Off the four women struggle to get to the road. This difference does not change the meaning of the road in both films. The road is freedom in both films, whether they are on it and want to hold on to whatever freedom they have attained or keep on striving to get to it.
How are the ending similar or different?
There is similarity in the ending on the note that all the women found freedom. Cleo, Frankie and Tisean all died but isn't that also a way out? They did not leave by the road, but they still left. Stoney did reach the road and set off to freedom, living that part of the dream for the other three. In Thelma and Louise they also reached freedom, the same way Cleo, Frankie and Tisean did. Another similarity is how in both films there was no men involved in the end. All the women were independent to the ends of their lives. Even when Stoney had another option (Keith), she decided to leave and make it on her own.