#the whole matador thing could also be read as breaking from toxic masculinity

[loveaetingkids]

The Book of Parental issues or how each characters legacy influences their live(pt 1)

Yes,it’s a psychoanalysis of cartoon  characters from 2014 film,but please bear with me. It is no secret to all of us that although this film puts it on the background, the topic of parenthood plays one of the key roles to the main characters - Manolo, Joaquim and even Maria. Let's consider how and why this topic is so important and how (in my humble opinion) it could be presented better in the case of certain characters (cough-cough-Maria-cough-cough).This one would be divided into 3 parts, each about one of the tres leches.

So let’s start with easiest one:Manolo.Through all the movie we see Carlos Sanchez(the father) trying to instill in his only son a love of bullfighting, something that all his ancestors did and is the pride of this family. But Manolo, despite his great talent for it, realizes that killing for fun is a bad thing, and that he wants to become a guitarist instead. Over the years, Manolo increasingly rebels against this idea(telling his dad that it’s his dream to be matador,not Manolo’s)but Carlos's words about his mother's disappointment (even though, as we later learn, she was against such a career for her son) and betrayal of his own family keep him in place. So what we can see is a centuries-old tradition that all Sanchez's ancestors performed, and which Manolo must fulfill, otherwise he won’t have the right to be considered a part of this family.

Later on,he ultimately decides not to kill a bull during a corrida, stating that he does not want to participate in this action despite the pressure from the family. In response to this,the guitar was thrown at the main character (most likely by Carlos), Manolo is called a disappointment to the family and that he shouldn't think of himself as Sanchez.We see that in case of an open rejection of tradition, regardless of how bloody it is, it is considered an insult to the family, for which one must be punished. This unhealthy ideology about continuing the matador career despite one's own desire is present in more than one generation, as shown with his two-swords-instead-of-limbs-predecessor Jorge Sanchez (his desire to be an opera singer was overshadowed by the need to continue bullfighting ).

During the final act,when Manolo makes peace with the souls of killed bulls trough the song,he ultimately shows his family,and especially Carlos,that what they thought was his weakness is actually his strength,and that is showing kindness and being true to yourself.Seing this,his father apologizes for pressuring him into something he didn’t want to,and realizes that the title of Sanchez shouldn’t be earned.

So in the end we got full-closed arc about breaking the toxic traditions and carving your own path.Which is sweet,but Maria and Joaquin didn’t have enough screen time to do the same.

(Next part will be posted under the first)

#the whole matador thing could also be read as breaking from toxic masculinity #cus it’s heavily connected with family values #write your thoughts down in the comments #maybe I missed something #book of life #manolo sanchez #carlos sanchez #carmen sanchez #jorge sanchez #maria posada #joaquin mondragon