I rarely broadcast my personal lyrical analysis but, upon reading some of these interpretations, I simply don't want open-minded people subjected to them. I don't believe in belittling people for their specific views and beliefs (whatever they may be) and, in fact, some of you have made extremely thought-provoking points, but I'm sure the answer lies somewhere deep within the large spectrum of them.
Some say it's a split-personality, others say it's symbolic, and a few even go so far as to claim there's nothing to it, other than the cryptic story it tells... I'd say the last of the three is probably the most valid, though I wouldn't doubt for a second that the characters symbolize one thing or another. That's not what I'm interested in... first of all, I think the double (or triple) personality theory is senseless. First of all, all characters are introduced at separate times in separate physical locations in the story and, most importantly, have significantly different outcomes. Rosemary is killed, the Jack of Hearts starts a new life, and Lilly is left to think about Jack, instead of her "lover" Jim.
The Jack of Hearts does not die, Dylan even states he's "missing from the scene" but has no problem locating dead-Jim with a knife in his back. It is Jack who "passed by in the costume of a monk" after talking to Lilly in the dressing room-- this is why Dylan tells us "there was no actor better" than him. Lilly talks about Jack's luck running out, likely due to Jim's suspicion... she helps dress him up in a costume and he sneaks out the back door. The climax scene does not in fact contain the Jack of Hearts, he is only mentioned when Rosemary is "leaning towards" him... which brings me to my last real point: the whole entire story is a love triangle or, more appropriately, a web of infidelity and misguided passion. Lilly has a fling with Jim but loves Jack; Rosemary loves Jim but knows he's untrue and would rather do away with him than see him with another woman (she is also eying Jack as a possible substitute, as hinted at in the "leaning toward the Jack of Hearts" line); Jack doesn't love Lily, which is why he leaves town without bringing her with him. We know he's gone because it's implied that he doesn't meet up to collect the money from his co-conspirators who are waiting for him.
Like I said before, each character may symbolize something in an allegorical sense, like greed or truth or corruption, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is how the story ultimately played out-- the only reason for this long-winded analysis was that no one seemed to see it this way. Obviously, if you don't agree, that's completely fine... that's the beauty of art. It affects people in different ways and there's truly no real "answer" as to what anything means... I just wanted to share my opinion in the event that someone is semi-enlightened or rethinks their interpretation.
I rarely broadcast my personal lyrical analysis but, upon reading some of these interpretations, I simply don't want open-minded people subjected to them. I don't believe in belittling people for their specific views and beliefs (whatever they may be) and, in fact, some of you have made extremely thought-provoking points, but I'm sure the answer lies somewhere deep within the large spectrum of them.
Some say it's a split-personality, others say it's symbolic, and a few even go so far as to claim there's nothing to it, other than the cryptic story it tells... I'd say the last of the three is probably the most valid, though I wouldn't doubt for a second that the characters symbolize one thing or another. That's not what I'm interested in... first of all, I think the double (or triple) personality theory is senseless. First of all, all characters are introduced at separate times in separate physical locations in the story and, most importantly, have significantly different outcomes. Rosemary is killed, the Jack of Hearts starts a new life, and Lilly is left to think about Jack, instead of her "lover" Jim.
The Jack of Hearts does not die, Dylan even states he's "missing from the scene" but has no problem locating dead-Jim with a knife in his back. It is Jack who "passed by in the costume of a monk" after talking to Lilly in the dressing room-- this is why Dylan tells us "there was no actor better" than him. Lilly talks about Jack's luck running out, likely due to Jim's suspicion... she helps dress him up in a costume and he sneaks out the back door. The climax scene does not in fact contain the Jack of Hearts, he is only mentioned when Rosemary is "leaning towards" him... which brings me to my last real point: the whole entire story is a love triangle or, more appropriately, a web of infidelity and misguided passion. Lilly has a fling with Jim but loves Jack; Rosemary loves Jim but knows he's untrue and would rather do away with him than see him with another woman (she is also eying Jack as a possible substitute, as hinted at in the "leaning toward the Jack of Hearts" line); Jack doesn't love Lily, which is why he leaves town without bringing her with him. We know he's gone because it's implied that he doesn't meet up to collect the money from his co-conspirators who are waiting for him.
Like I said before, each character may symbolize something in an allegorical sense, like greed or truth or corruption, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is how the story ultimately played out-- the only reason for this long-winded analysis was that no one seemed to see it this way. Obviously, if you don't agree, that's completely fine... that's the beauty of art. It affects people in different ways and there's truly no real "answer" as to what anything means... I just wanted to share my opinion in the event that someone is semi-enlightened or rethinks their interpretation.