How to Read Literature Like a Professor: Assignment Five

The Holiday is one of my all time favorite movies. My mom and I love to put on our comfiest pj's, brew up a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate, sit in our favorite living room spots and enjoy the comfort of this movie. It has everything that a good chick flick needs. Comedy. Romance. But coming with romance there is always one factor that has to be included. Sex.

How can a writer of an amazing movie, such as this, illustrate intimacy without showing the characters "doing the deed?" Well, this particular writer manages to do so in a very artistically sound way. The main characters of this particular novel start out as complete strangers. One of them shows up drunk on the other's doorstep and convinces her to let him stay on the couch so that he will not have to drive home drunk. One thing leads to another and the author begins paving the road to the bedroom.

But instead of showing the dirty details he just ends the scene at an open conversation with a little bit of flirting thrown in there. By not going into further visual detail, the writer actually makes more of an impact on the growth and development in characterization. Without showing the "sex scene" he leaves it open and keeps you guessing. It made me want to know if their relationship was more than just a physical one. I wanted them to blossom and to learn more about the characters themselves and why the writer chose to have them jump into things.

This particular scene in The Holiday suggests that their is more to the romantic relationship than just sex. It also foreshadows more scenes like this to come that will further describe how the characters grow and change throughout the story.