Beyonce's Lemonade: Cheating, Forgiveness, and Growth

Don't have an hour to watch Beyonce's new visual album? It's okay, I did for you.

(Though really, you should find time...)

I went into this film knowing nothing about the plot, and I feel like it is best if you do the same.

Below the cut on each block I provide the transcription. Certain parts are quite long so for the full spoken work, please visitBustle.

Intuition

We begin with hauntingly silent images. There is no movement and you find yourself holding your breath without realizing. Here starts the monologue that chronicles a cheating relationship from the very start.

Song lyrics:

"I pray you catch me whispering."

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doors lead to trap doors

What are you hiding?

Denial

Our leading woman transforms from her previous state. She jumps into the water, sheds her old clothes and becomes a different woman. She tries to just absorb the situation, to not let it affect her, to ignore it away.

mad.

Song lyrics:

"What's worse, looking jealous or crazy?"

"Can't you see there's no other man above you? What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you."

--------

tried to be softer

are you cheating on me?

Cheating? Are you cheating on me?"

Anger

HER

Song lyrics:

"I'll give you one more try, you know I'm your life

You try this shit again, you 'gon lose your wife."

--------

I can wear her skin over mineyou and your perfect girl.

Everyone else can.

Apathy

Now that she's sufficiently made whoever cheated on her terrified for their lives, leading lady gets on a school bus "to the club" and lets us know that she no longer "gives a fuck." She's over it and moving on.

Song lyrics:

"Middle fingers up, put them hands high

Put it in his face, tell him "boy, bye!'"

--------------------

So, what are you gonna say at my funeral now that you've killed me? Here lies the body of love of my life, whose heart I broke without a gun to my head. Here lies the mother of my children, both living and dead. Rest in peace, my true love, who I took for granted."

Emptiness

We return to the car park, filled with flames. We flash back and forth between the car park, a mansion, and a long red hallway. She seems like she's in a trance and the fear-inducing attitude she had has faded.

Song lyrics:

"She just killed everybody in here and I was her witness"

---------

She sleeps all day. Dreams of you in both worlds.

for men who are also wolves

Loss

We're taken into the city and discover our leading lady is dealing with this blow by working her ass off. She throws herself into her craft, she's the best, she's "worth every dollar." But then our red hallway is set on fire - she's burning a house down.

Song lyrics:

"She's too smart to crave material things, stackin' her paper"

-----------------

nightmare

Accountability

We're in a mansion, we're in a neighborhood, we're in the past and present. We hear of a child wanting desperately to be like her mother, to be strong for her, to be a woman that is not bent and broken by any man in their lives. Father, friend, or husband.

Song lyrics:

"Came into this world, daddy's little girl. Daddy made a soldier out of me."

-----------------

You look everything like your mother.

cannot be contained.

Did he bend your reflection? Did he make you forget your own name? Did he convince you he was a god?

your husband or your father

Reformation

From the loud anthem of accountability, we're taken back to stark silence. We're in an empty stadium as we watch our leading woman come to terms with what is happening. She tries to see the other side, if there is another side. Perhaps if she changes her view she can change the situation.

Song lyrics:

I know you're trying,

fair

life line.

-----------------

heavenundeservingafraid of love

You are the love of my life.