Sentimentality

A Defense of Sentimentality
Sentimentality is a controversial topic in narrative art. I believe in certain occasions sentimentality is acceptable, so long as performed in a skillful manner. As Ira Newman defines, “the central idea in sentimentality is the evocation, by some aspect of the sentimental subject matter, of a tender emotion. This emotion is a response to a pleasing idealization,resulting from some degree of exaggeration or misrepresentation in the sentimental subject matter”(339). She and I agree that sentimentality can be used effectively. In contrast, Anthony Savile sees sentimentality as a mode of feeling or thought, not a feeling of a particular kind, and always finds fault in it. He argues that because the audience requires explanation as to whether or not to feel makesit intrinsically false. Furthermore, he dislikes the lack of evidential justification and falsity that he feels sentimentality requires (337). Though I agree with Savile in that sentimentality requires suggestion and sometimes falsification, I feel that it is still an integral part of narrative literature. Barry Levinson’s film Rain Man is guilty of sentimentality, but he uses it in an effectiveway that makes the audience empathize with the characters.
One example of Rain Man showing a possible falsity is in the depiction of the Walbrooke Mental Hospital. The building has a long drive leading up to it, with perfect green grass and oak trees flanking the path. The inside of the facility is clean and inviting, and all the residents appear to be calm and enjoying themselves. In myexperience (my uncle is mentally retarded) mental hospitals are not always this nice. They usually do not have that resort-esque, landscape and usually a visitor encounters at least one resident that is having some sort of outburst or other problem. Inside, they are often bland instead of looking like a converted mansion such as in the film. The film’s idealization of the hospital makes us okay withRaymond coming back at the end of the film, while a real mental hospital might make the audience nervous or uncomfortable.
Another instance of sentimentality in Rain Man comes at the casino hotel. Raymond asks Charlie to teach him to dance, and Charlie obliges. The film switches to a sweeping camera angle, panning over the Las Vegas strip to settle on the two brothers dancing in the window of thehotel to swelling music, Etta James’ “At Last.” Though not an idealization or falsification, these cinematic elements are designed to bring a smile to the viewer. This is the first real coming-together of the brothers, in which each seems to enjoy the other’s company without want for personal gain.
The characters’ change in personality by the end of the film, which lasted the course of sixdays, is the largest example of sentimentality. First, Charlie changes from a self-centered businessman into a loving and caring brother. He stops pursuing Raymond’s inheritance, instead just wanting custody of him so that they can be together as a family again. To say that someone completely changed their personality in this way is not implausible, but it is certainly an oversimplification. Thinkingabout this in terms of reality, one could easily suspect that Charlie will revert back to his old self after a few days out of the company of his brother. Likewise, Raymond’s change is also questionable. Autistics stick very close to their routine, and any deviance from it can cause them great distress. Though high-functioning, Raymond has a very strict routine and appears to disregard it afterjust a few days. Furthermore, through the work Charlie alone, he is able to act calmly in large crowds, something extremely difficult for the handicapped, and function much more normally in society. This is the most glaring oversimplification of the film. Charlie has no medical training and does not appear to do anything to improve Raymond’s mental health except to show compassion and kindness...