The director of "The Piano", Jane Campion, chose to set this movie in the 1800's. This decision allowed her to experiment with ideas that are seen as being more relevant at present, yet were more prominent in the 19th centaury. One of the most significant ideas that Campion exhibited was what marriage conveyed. Some of the ideas she presented us, the viewer, with include marriage arrangements, expectations and women being man possession.

The main female character, Ada McGrath (played by Holly Hunter), was exposed to the negative effects of a marriage arrangement. The first instance that we, as viewers, can identify is how Ada's father simply gave her up or sold her as a mail order bride. He sent her away to a foreign country where she was married off to a man, Alistair Stewart (played by Sam Neil), she had never met, which resulted in her feeling...