Ava is such a special character in Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black. Ava is a devoted wife, a responsible daughter, and a true friend. Ava always sees the good in people, especially in her toxic husband, Dallas, even though it hurts her the most. You can’t help but feel bad for her. But what’s amazing is how Ava changes her life for the better. She realizes she deserves more and takes steps to improve her life, which makes you admire her strength. Despite her sweet and generous nature, she ends up killing Dallas. Why did she do it? Let’s explore Ava’s character in the film to find the answer.
Spoilers Ahead
Why did Ava divorce her husband?
Ava had always imagined having a happy married life from a young age because she saw how much her parents loved each other. Her father, Clarence, was a church priest, and she often heard him preaching about forgiveness and seeing the good in everyone. She believed deeply in these teachings, and seeing her parents so deeply in love made her believe in true love even more. When Ava married Dallas, she had a lot of hope. It was only after the wedding that she realized he was far from perfect—actually, he was the worst. His family was in gambling, stealing, and even murdering people, and Dallas was just like them. Despite this, Ava chose to believe in him because she was blinded by love. She thought he would be different and better than the rest of his family. Even though he proved her wrong time after time, she still stayed with him, ignoring all the toxicity and red flags. The problem was that Ava didn’t want to believe that there was no good in Dallas and that he would never change. She wanted to push Dallas to be better, but Dallas thought she wasn’t satisfied with the way he was. He felt like she wanted to change him into some perfect man she had imagined. He believed she wasn’t truly in love with him, so he wanted a divorce. The girl who ignored all the warnings from her parents and her best friend, Rona, couldn’t believe she was being accused like this, let alone facing divorce. She had put up with all his nonsense, only to end up like this! Ava did not deserve it. She deserved to be happy instead of constantly wondering what was wrong with her. In fact, there was nothing wrong with her. She was attractive and a genuinely kind-hearted person, and it was about time she realized that. So, for her own sanity, she agreed to sign the divorce papers.
Why did Ava like Benji?
When Ava came to stay with her parents, she started spending time with her ex-boyfriend, Benji. Her parents kind of pushed her to meet him again. They had been in love when they were young, and it was clear from the way Benji always hung around her that he was head over heels for her. Even though Ava wanted to be with Benji and give their relationship another chance, she couldn’t. How could she? She had spent her life with the cruel Dallas, who never cared for her, and she had been too naive to realize it. Now that she was about to turn forty, she wanted to take her life decisions seriously. Her separation from Dallas had taken a toll on her. So, even though Benji was considerate, sweet, and passionate, she held off from being with him as much as she wanted to because she wanted to prioritize herself. The problem was that the more she resisted being around Benji, the more she realized how much she had missed out on life by not being with a healthy, protective, and secure man. She deserved that happiness too. She also felt a bit guilty about moving on from Dallas, which might have been another reason she was hesitant to give Benji a chance. But seeing Benji being so thoughtful and respectful towards her made her wish she had chosen him instead of Dallas. And now that Benji was also divorced and single, maybe this was a sign for them to be together. So, she decided to be with Benji.
Why did Ava kill Dallas?
Ava was always known for her kind heart and gentle nature. She never believed in violence or hurting others. Just imagine what Ava had to go through to reach a point where she felt she had no choice but to kill her ex-husband, Dallas, a man she once loved deeply. After their divorce, Dallas continued to make Ava’s life hell. He stalked her and harassed everyone she cared about, including her friend Rona, her parents, and her former boyfriend, Benji. The breaking point came when Dallas physically attacked her parents. Ava couldn’t take it anymore. Determined to protect herself and her family, Ava decided to face Dallas one last time. She called him over to her house, as she knew he would react violently if provoked. As expected, Dallas physically abused her, hit her, and left her bruised and battered. But Ava was ready this time. She had already contacted the police before the situation escalated. She shot Dallas and finally ended his toxic hold over her life.
Ava’s decision to murder Dallas in cold-blood was driven by several factors: Dallas’ continuous emotional abuse, and Ava’s realization that Dallas would never change. Ava’s desperate need to protect herself and her loved ones forced to take such a drastic step. With the support of her parents, who even provided her with a gun for protection, Ava killed the monster in her life so as to end her misery for once and all. Ultimately, it was a matter of survival. And no, Ava wasn’t arrested because she had contacted the police beforehand, and she had a restraining order against Dallas. The fact that he showed up and attacked her was proof that she acted in self-defense. The bruises on her body were more evidence supporting her case. But considering the criminal history of Dallas’s family, will they let Ava go so easily? There’s a real chance they might seek revenge. After all, Dallas’s family is known for their shady criminal activities, and they might not just let this slide. So, Ava has to be extra careful moving forward because, with a family like Dallas’s, anything could happen.
