Do you think there is a deeper meaning behind "A History of Violence" ?

Question

As I was watching the film, it seemed that Viggio represented America, who had tried to forget its past. His wife represented Americans that don't know there history, and the children represented the ability to be violent because it is in their blood (the son) and the innocense of the youth and the future (the daughter). What do you think about the movie ?

Answer 1

I think it was a demonstration of what is meant by the phrase "He has a history of violence", the corolary of which is "people change".

Your main person is a man with a history of violence that breaks away from it and lives a life of quiet domesticity, until his history catches up with him and he must resort to violence to protect that which he loves.

This is a microcosm of America, forged in battle, dedicated to the preservation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and forced to protect itself and its people against all threats foreign and domestic.

As for his family, it could be argued that the mother wife is symbolic of people in the know who can appreciate all that one has done to secure our liberties. The sone is one who is trying to adhere to the rules of society but who is learning that violence is not just foreign, out side the community, but domestic as well, the town boys, and eventually you have to respond to both. And as for the daughter, she is like so many that benefit from the violence that protects them, never having to defend their own liberties, but never questioning those who do.

Interestingly, there is nobody in the film arguing don't do these violent things, except the man with the history of violence. You would think there would be at least one person in the town recommending he take his family elsewhere. That doesn't happen. Curious.

Answer 2

That's deep...I always wondered why it was called the history of violence. I thought that it would explain or represent the history of violence. I thought the movie was good and I can see your point of view. When Viggio killed his brother and his people, it could've represented how America will do anything to stay above water (i.e. 9/11).

But in all, I think the movie showed us that we need to be more careful of who we bring into our lives.

Answer 3

I agree with the last person. When I watched it, the lasting impression I got was that it exemplifies how eventually your past will catch up with you, especially when you have a "history of violence." No matter how hard Viggo's character tried to escape his gruesome, criminal past life, he couldn't escape because it was engrained into his family and past relationships, and more importantly, it was an unconscious element of his personality over which he had no control.

It was a decent movie, but I don't think Cronenberg intended any deep, political symbolism.

Answer 4

I enjoyed it, but I admit I didn't look into it that deeply. I kind of thought the meaning was that you can't really escape who you really are, no matter how you try or how your circumstances change.

Your thoughts are an interesting view though.

Answer 5

does it mean that you can have violent sex?