Don't Blame Sarah Jane: They're All Phonies.

Harvey's Critical Review of The Imitation of Life

As a reader of Harvey’s essay, in regards to Imitation of Life, I found his descriptions very useful. His arguments and assertions opened up cinematic viewpoints I never discovered while viewing the film. His idea that the entire movie itself, and not just the character of Sarah Jane, focuses on all forms of imitation is quite interesting. Not only is Sarah Jane an imitator, impersonating the White race, but Miss Lora, Annie, and Susie are all subconsciously pretending. Miss Lora demonstrates a form of impersonation by truly believing that she treats and views Annie as an equal individual. The fact that Miss Lora allows Annie to call her Miss, even though Annie is years older than her, demonstrates their social difference. Annie is not treated fairly, no matter the amount of sincerity Miss Lora pretends to exude. Annie is unpaid labor, holding the family together through her helping hand and listening ear. All hard work is honestly ignored, and simply categorized as friendly gestures.

One of the most heart-wrenching scenes throughout the film is the moment Annie pretends to be Sarah Jane’s care giver instead of her mother. This form of impersonation is an example of the length each character goes to create a fictional lifestyle that feels more accepting than the harsh realities they refuse to endure. The audience is forced to sympathize for Annie as she publicly disowns her daughter, sacrificing her own sanity for the happiness of her child. It is actually sickening to see Annie demean herself to the servant of her child, pretending to have no blood relation to the delusional Sarah Jane.

Susie’s form of impersonation is delivered in the beginning of the film. Annie and Sarah Jane come home from an unfortunate day at school: Annie has exposed Sarah Jane’s African American affiliation. Annie and Sarah Jane enter the home to see an impersonating Susie. Pretending to be sick so that she can stay home from school, Susie lies in bed while Miss Lora to take her temperature. Lora exclaims, “Why you’re practically normal!” falling into collaborative laughter with Susie. As a result of Susie’s comical illness, the controversial situation between Annie and her daughter is described as not “a real problem”. Susie epitomizes the idea that through pretending, larger issues become non-existent.