Thelma and Louise

The moment when Louise is talking to Jimmy was significant to me. He asks her if she thinks she's the only one with dreams that didn't work out, and she says, "… I think its time to just let go of the old mistakes; just chalk it up to bad timing. I think it's time to let go."

While they are specifically talking about their relationship together, I think this is a great example that can be applied to their entire road trip. Their road trip is a way to let go of their mistakes and escape those dreams that didn't work out.

If they hadn't been on the run, would Louise have married Jimmy, or would she still feel the need to let go of old mistakes and move on?

Thelma & Louise

One of the most significant scenes in the movie is when Thelma says, "I feel really awake. I don't recall ever feeling this awake. You know? Everything looks different now. You feel like that? You feel like you got something to live for?" For Thelma and Louise, a road trip is defined as a way to put distance between them and their life back home. Their life back home made them feel sedated, unable to express themselves. I believe they were tired of settling. Traveling together gave them a chance to take back control of their lives and "for once just really let their hair down." And because of this, they felt more awake and alive.

If someone tells you they have been convicted of armed robbery, why would you leave $6700 laying on top of the bed table?

Thelma and Louise

I don't have a specific part of the movie that has not been addressed yet; however, I did notice how both their transformations from femininity to masculinity can be seen but the way they dressed. Louise and Thelma start the road trip with typical girlwear such as dresses. They slowly start dressing more rugged as they get in trouble with the law. They start to take on a more masculine role by wearing jeans, sleeveless jean jackets, etc. What probably completed the transformation was when Thelma put on that trucker hat after they blew up the 18 wheeler. This movie shows how the road trip can lead to identity change based on the events that occur on the road.

Why did the cop show such trust and affection for the outlaws?

Thelma and Louise

In my opinion, the part that is most significant, is when Thelma robs the store. She is finally breaking out of her shell for the first time after being in a controlling relationship, and does something she is in control of for once. She realizes the trouble that Louise is in, and will do anything to help her one true best friend. You can tell that the significance of the roadtrip for Thelma is to finally do something for herself instead of listening to her husband, seen from the very beginning of the movie, but I don't think she does anything to break out of her shell until this point in the movie. After this point, it's clear her loyalty is to Louise and getting them both out of the lives they've been living.

Was the decision they made at the end of the movie the best one? Would they have been able to get out of the trouble they were in? How did everyone feel about the ending?

Thelma and Louise

For me, the scene that showed what this road trip has been for Thelma and Louise was towards the end of the movie, when they are driving in the desert after the police chase (the 1st one). Then Thelma says to Louise: "I guess I went a little crazy, huh?" and Louise responds "No, you've always been a little crazy, this is just the first time you've had a chance to express yourself." This moment shows the transformation that the road trip has been for Thelma. She started off as a trapped housewife, at times unsure of herself and following Louise's lead. As events in the movie progressed, Thelma became more of a leader, taking charge of situations that Louise could not, and forgetting about the expectations that society has about how a woman should act. In this movie, a road trip has the ability to bring out qualities that are hidden deep inside someone by taking away limitations and providing inspiration on the open road.

Question: Why did that one detective care so much about what happened to Thelma and Louise, when the rest of the men in this movie (except for Louise's boyfriend - I can't remember his name) were portrayed in such a chauvinistic light? Why was he different?

Thelma and Louise

I think the scene where Thelma and Louise found out that they were robbed by "Brad Pitt" at the hotel was significant. Here, Thelma and Louise switched role. Louise is usually the head-strong, determined, and courageous one while Thelma is the weak and dependent one. At this scene, the two switched role. Thelma stepped up and became the leader for the moment in time and helped Louise get herself back together.

I feel like this movie defines "road trip" as companionship. This companionship helps Thelma and Louise grow stronger together while finding out more and more about each other as they are escaping to Mexico.

Why did they call Daryl knowing that there might be a chance that the police were there?

Thelma and Louise

The scene when Louise first says she's going to Mexico was significant in the movie. I think the scene shows their purpose for their travels although the movie did not start out this way. Their trip becomes an escape from the crime Louise has committed and an escape from their old way of life. They realize that it is too late for them to turn back, so they run and avoid being caught. They know that they have lost everything they had, so they continue to commit crimes without anything to lose. Their only option of escape is to keep moving. As the movie progresses, I think that they gain the freedom to express themselves, and in order to keep their freedom, they avoid getting caught even until the end.

What would have happened if they just turned themselves in?