The Woman In The Yard
This article includes discussions of depression and suicide.
MAJOR SPOILERS for The Woman in the Yard are ahead!
When Ramona tries to tell The Woman to leave, the visitor makes statements that indicate a psychic element.
She knows about the children, the car accident, and Ramonas innermost thoughts.
Even though they look different, Ramona and The Woman represent two parts of the same person.
Ramona comforts her children while The Woman scares them.
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
The Woman tells Ramona, Im the corners of your mind.
These behaviors are only amplified once The Woman appears, sitting in a chair in the yard.
Does Ramona Die By Suicide In The Woman In The Yard?
Sadly, she didnt have the support or resources to get out of this mental state.
However,The Woman in the Yardthen pulls a bait and switch.
Shes shown leaving the barn alive, with her children running into her arms.
She promises that The Woman wont come back any time soon.
This leaves the answer about Ramonas death ambiguous.
However, every day, she has changed her mind and decided to keep going.
When Taylor brings this up with Ramona, she shares what actually happened that night.
Ramona and David went out to dinner, but Ramona clearly wasnt happy.
After David brought it up, Ramona said that she was not happy with their life as it was.
Since David didnt want to move again, she threatened to leave him.
They got into the car while upset with one another.
Ramona drove through the rain while distracted, and the car ran into another vehicle, killing David.
This revelation adds a layer of guilt to Ramonas grief, making her mental state more complex.
When shes asked why, Annie tells Ramona that the penguin doesnt like the bad stuff.
Because of this explanation, the penguin becomes a representation of Annies childlike hope, wonder, and joy.
The penguin doesnt become prominent again in the story until the end.
The film is a long-form allegory for the harmful effects of mental illness and grief.
Even her physical injuries can be seen as a representation of her mental state.
The Womans actions warn audience members about what can happen if ones mental health is ignored.
Not only is Ramona mean and volatile towards her children, but shes also harmful towards herself.
This feels especially important since Ramona probably died by suicide.
Viewers need to know that suicide can be prevented, even if Ramonas story had a tragic ending.
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