Mona Lisa Smile - Characters
She is the progressive art history professor from California who challenges Wellesley traditions.
Who is Katherine Watson?
This is the central theme of Katherine Watson’s teaching: women should think critically and make their own choices.
What is individuality or independence?
This girl with thyroid cancer is the story’s narrator.
Who is Hazel?
Hazel and Augustus experience this strong emotion that connects them deeply.
What is love?
The film’s title comes from this world-famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, famous for its mysterious smile.
What is Mona Lisa?
This student initially resists Katherine’s teachings but later grows into a more independent thinker, pursuing law school.
Who is Joan Brandwyn?
This theme looks at the expectation of people based on their assigned gender.
What is gender norms?
Augustus Waters, Hazel’s love interest, has this type of cancer.
What is osteosarcoma?
The novel explores how young people deal with this life-threatening illness.
What is cancer?
Where would you find the Mona Lisa painting?
Where is the Louvre Museum?
This sharp-tongued student writes for the campus paper and defends traditional gender roles.
Who is Betty Warren?
The tension between Katherine and the administration reflects this larger theme about tradition versus progress.
What is conformity versus individuality?
Hazel and Augustus travel to Amsterdam to meet this author.
Who is Peter van Houten?
This theme deals with finding things funny even when facing tragic circumstances.
What is coping with humour/optimism?
Julia Roberts, who plays Katherine Watson, was already famous for starring in this 1990 romantic comedy about a woman who falls in love with a wealthy man.
What is Pretty Woman?
This free-spirited student explores her sexuality and has an affair with Bill Dunbar, the Italian professor.
Who is Giselle Levy?
Through Betty’s journey, the movie critiques this societal institution, often presented as the ultimate female goal.
What is marriage?
Augustus’ best friend, who struggles with vision loss due to cancer.
Who is Isaac?
Hazel and Augustus question the importance of this, especially regarding how they’ll be remembered.
What is legacy/meaning?
This is the actor who played Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars film.
Who is Ansel Elgort?
This character embodies traditional faculty resistance, criticizing Katherine’s unorthodox methods and urging conformity.
Who is Nancy Abbey?
The film’s title and recurring art analysis suggest this theme: women, like art, are often admired yet constrained by societal expectations.
What is the objectification of women?
This is the main character in the fictional book An Imperial Affliction.
Who is Anna?
This complex theme involves accepting the inevitable yet finding value in limited time.
What is mortality or the meaning of life in the face of death?
This is the name of the YouTube channel that John Green has with his brother, Hank.
What is VlogBrothers?