Mona Lisa Smile

I love the movie Mona Lisa Smile. Everytime I watch it something new jumps out at me. One thing always stays the same though: Joan is my favorite character. I feel like I have a lot in common with her. I love to learn and I love my classes and if I had no desire to be a wife and mother I think I would go to school for years and years and years.  But...I desire a family more. Of course I will work, but my dream is the day I can take care of my family and I don't think this makes me some sort of self-inflicted imprisoned woman. This is the same place Joan finds herself in. I feel like this enlightenment in the film is often overlooked with all of the "go out and be a free independent woman" messages. 

Anyway there is a particular quote that I just love by Joan's character while talking with her professor. She is discussing sacrificing graduate school for marriage:

Joan Brandwyn: It was my choice, not to go. He would have supported it.

Katherine Watson: But you don't have to choose! 

Joan Brandwyn: No, I have to. I want a home, I want a family! That's not something I'll sacrifice

.

Katherine Watson: No one's asking you to sacrifice that, Joan. I just want you to understand that you can do both. 

Joan Brandwyn: Do you think I'll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer? 

Katherine Watson: Yes, I'm afraid that you will. 

Joan Brandwyn: Not as much as I'd regret not having a family, not being there to raise them. I know exactly what I'm doing and it doesn't make me any less smart. This must seem terrible to you. 

Katherine Watson: I didn't say that. 

Joan Brandwyn: Sure you did. You always do. You stand in class and tell us to look beyond the image, but you don't. To you a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center hall colonial. She has no depth, no intellect, no interests. You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.