Without Feathers

What are the motifs in Without Feathers by Woody Allen?

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Allen's parodies show many keen insights into the nature of definitive authority. In both "Irish Genius" and "Lovborg's Women Considered" an anonymous critic offers an exegesis of the author's work. O'Shawn's critic claims to possess a better understanding of the poet's life than the poet had himself. Similarly, Lovborg's critic confidently asserts knowledge not merely of Lovborg's life, but also his most intimate feelings. This is Allen poking fun at the self-proclaimed authority of scholars who present mere educated guesses as if they were fact. It also shows the danger of basing an opinion on one authoritative text.