The Tug-of-War for Jefferson’s Attention in Jefferson in Paris

By Jenna Goldenberg

[1] James Ivory’s Jefferson in Paris provides a visual interpretation of Jefferson’s struggle to juggle three women in his life while he is temporarily in Paris. According to movie critic Todd McCarthy, Jefferson’s “afflicted and complicated personal life” is accurately portrayed by actor Nick Nolte. One of these women in Jefferson’s love life is Maria Cosway, a married woman with whom Jefferson has a relationship while in France. Next, there is Sally Hemings, who is Jefferson’s slave, and with whom he is having an affair. At different points in the story, he tries to persuade both of these women to come back to Monticello with him. The third woman in Jefferson’s life is his daughter, Patsy (Martha), to whom he devotes little attention. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Patsy and is described by McCarthy as “one of the story’s most intriguing figures.” Jefferson maintains his control over Patsy through manipulation as, simultaneously, Patsy fights for the affection and attention of her father (2:00:16).

[2] Patsy becomes increasingly upset as Jefferson devotes his time to Sally and Maria and does not pay much attention to her. She wants to take vows and become Catholic after becoming suspicious of the affair between her father and Sally. Her father is a widow, so the realization of this affair is hard for Patsy to face. Jefferson does not approve of his daughter taking vows or becoming Catholic. He will not give Patsy the freedom to choose her religion and makes her leave the convent, which is ironic considering he is the author of the Declaration of Independence. Finally, Jefferson brings Patsy back home from the convent and finally, in the scene on which I’ll focus here, gives her some attention.

[3] As an audience, we feel some sympathy for Patsy. She is horrified to find out that her father is sleeping with a slave in her home. Ever since Patsy first begins to suspect the affair between her father and Sally, she becomes even more depressed. My classmate Kathryn Martin describes Patsy as “heart-broken and love starved.” Martin also says, “Her emotions are in turmoil, and it's clear that she is torn between falling into her father's arms or ripping off his cheating head.” She is angry at her father for giving her little attention and for his unspeakable actions with Sally. Yet, underneath it all, she still loves him. Jefferson somehow has to make her feel important in his life in order to maintain control over her.

[4] There is a struggle between Patsy and Sally for the attention of Jefferson. Maria, on the other hand, does not waste her time fighting for Jefferson’s attention. The struggles of the younger two are powerfully portrayed when Sally and Patsy are both sitting in their beds listening to the footsteps of Jefferson at night (2:00). Jefferson hesitates when he passes by Sally’s room. He wants to see Sally, but he forces himself to choose his daughter because he knows it is the right thing to do. He does not want to lose his own daughter to his selfish love affair. He has trouble balancing the attention he gives to each of them. Jefferson knows that he has been diverting his attention away from his daughter to Sally. He says to Patsy, “Who can be the mistress of Monticello but you? Don’t you want to be that?” Patsy hesitates when he says that and nods her head. This is Patsy’s chance to assert that she wants to stay in Paris. However, she can not tell Jefferson what she wants just like Sally can not tell Jefferson she wants to be freed. She obediently forces herself to reply back to him, “More than anything in the world.” Patsy forces herself to say this as she closes her eyes, as if almost in pain, and then says, “If only it could be.” She is thinking of Sally when she says this. Patsy knows that she will never be the first priority in her father’s life. She feels that Sally will be, in truth if not in fact, the mistress of Monticello. In Patsy’s mind, Sally is the mistress, and she comes second to Jefferson.

[5] Jefferson uses his powerful manipulation in this scene when he speaks with Patsy. This recurring motif is seen as Jefferson juggles his women. When Jefferson finally goes to talk to Patsy, he immediately uses his manipulation to try to persuade her to come home to Virginia. He begins by small talking and then immediately tells Patsy that George Washington has asked him to return home to become Secretary of State. Jefferson then says, “You know my feelings about public office: I’d rather eat my soup at home with you and Polly then have all the honors and position my country can heap on me.” These lines are powerful and make Patsy feel guilty. How could Patsy inhibit her father from performing his diplomatic duties? How could Patsy not sacrifice as her father is?

[6] Another instance in this scene in which Jefferson sweet talks Patsy and lures her to feel obligated to come back with him takes place when he grabs her hands and says, “You are my true life and my true love, and everything that is best in me belongs to you.” When Jefferson says this, one can almost imagine him talking to Sally, and actually being sincere. In fact, the manner in which Jefferson talks to and touches Patsy in this scene makes them seem almost lovers. Jefferson’s powerful rhetoric masks what he truly feels.

[7] Jefferson is trying to win back the love of his daughter after she has seen that he is involved with other women. He attempts to use his rhetoric to make Patsy feel she is the number one woman in his life. Jefferson guilts Patsy into agreeing to come back to Monticello when he recalls a promise she made as a child that she would do anything for him and forever be the woman of his household. How can Patsy disappoint her father and break her promise? He manipulates her to ensure she is under his control and to fulfill his selfish wants. Jefferson has also used this strategy on Maria Cosway after she realizes in the garden his “unspeakable” relation with Sally. Maria, however, does not give in to Jefferson’s manipulation and walks away when he tries to talk to her.

[8] The first moment of affection that Patsy shows with her father is when she gives him a hug at the end of this scene. Patsy is happy to have her father’s attention for once. Maybe Patsy would not be so depressed if Jefferson spent more time with her and if he did not have an immoral relationship with Sally. However, the blame for Patsy and Jefferson’s deteriorating relationship is not all on Jefferson. Patsy is immature and has to realize how Jefferson is very important politically and has many responsibilities. In the end, Jefferson gets his way with Patsy and Sally, but not with Maria. Patsy and Sally will come back to Monticello, but Maria is sophisticated enough to see through his lies.