RESUME OF MONA LISA SMILE

In 1953, a teacher who studied at UCLA graduate school named Katherine Watson left her
boyfriend (Paul Moore) behind in Los Angeles, to teach at Wellesley College - a conservative
women's arts college in Massachusetts – United State. At her first history of art class, she is
surprised and become speechless because the students are better prepared than she is and the entire
class joins together to show the new teacher up. Shaken up a bit by the unexpected assault on her
teaching ability she decides to face the pampered rich kids head on and challenges them with her
unconventional style.

Watson encourages her students to study to become career professionals. She wants her
students to lead the world and not just to live as the wife of somebody. She uses modern art to
suggest that they need not conform to female stereotype, even introducing the students to the work
of Jackson Pollock. She feels that women can do more than just adopt the roles of wives and
mothers.

Watson's work is contrary to methods deemed acceptable by the school's directors,

conservative women who believe firmly that Watson should not use her class to express her points
of views or befriend students, and should stick only to teaching art. Watson is warned that she could
lose her job. But she becomes more forceful in her speeches about feminism. She believes she needs
to instill a spirit of change among her students.

Watson eventually breaks her relation with her boyfriend, Paul Moore after a disastrous
wedding proposal. She starts a relationship with Italian teacher Bill Dunbar. Although the
relationship is frowned upon by the faculty, the two continue seeing each other. However, Watson
ends the relationship after finding out that Dunbar lied about his military service.

There are several students who have contribution in this story, such as : Elizabeth "Betty"
Warren, a rich girl with a conservative, domineering mother (who, as head of the Alumni
Association, exerts significant influence) who dislike Watson at the beginning but admire her at the
end. ; Constance "Connie" Baker has insecurities about her body while searching for a boyfriend. ;
Giselle Levy, one of the few Jewish students at Wellesley at the time, who has an affair with Bill
Dunbar, but who is also one of the first students to admire Watson. ; and Joan Brandwyn, who is
initially conflicted about whether to pursue law school after graduation or become a housewife to
Tommy Donegal.

Watson chooses to leave after one year, but as she is leaving the college for the last time, her
students follow her car, to show their affection. At the last, Betty dedicates her last editorial to
Watson, explicitly stating that Watson is "an extraordinary woman" and an individual who "seeks
truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond the image."

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KARINA PUTRI
120912103
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT '09
UNIVERSITY OF AIRLANGGA