Thursday, February 20, 2014
The Marquis' Mechanical Men
The one consistent passion of Robert, the Marquis, throughout the film is his collection of mechanical figures, often with music. From the mechanical "Negresse" and warbler he fiddles with in Paris, to the gigantic music box with figurines that he unveils in his county estate -- which he proclaims is "the culmination of my career as a collector" -- he is constantly playing or fixing or displaying these devices. What is the symbolic significance of these music boxes and mechanical men? Why is he constantly fiddling and fixing them? Is there any special significance to the gigantic music box that plays a central role in the entertainment at La Coliniere? What about the fact that the music grounds to a thudding sound as Shumacher chases Marceau through the chateau? What is the point of the Marquis' mechanical men?
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In this chaotic film, where everyone’s love lives intertwine and conflict, the mechanical men represent Robert’s unsuccessful effort to know everything about everyone’s lives and control them. He wants to know what is happening under his roof, and justly so. While fiddling and tinkering with the singing dolls, Robert attempts to fix the romantic strife of each of his houseguests. Aware of the existence of adultery, but maybe not of its full extent, he attempts to orchestrate the guests’ drama. Because the people are not mechanical, of course, he proves ineffective and the series of love triangles and infidelity ends up deadly. Eventually made aware of his wife’s unfaithfulness, he holds a position of power as the head of the house, the leader, and in charge of inviting the guests. Robert tinkers with people’s lives, just like he tinkers with his musical dolls. Another example of the role of the dolls is when Marceau uses the music to break down the barrier between himself and Lisette and flirt his way into her heart. He must get her to laugh and soften up before he can make a romantic move. Furthermore, the central mechanical music player produces music during the climactic party scene. The presence of this music player represents the largest, most intricate combinations of mechanical music, a symbol for this climax. The particulars of relationships are challenged and clashing, with characters chasing each other on account of various accusations and claims. The entire house is affected, including the uninvolved guests who now witness the fiasco. The music plays as the chaos occurs. In “The Rules of the Game,” the musical dolls and musical machines are a symbolic representation of Robert’s role in relation to his friends and guests and the mechanical nature of the relationships he fails to control.
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