Comparisions of Emma and Clueless Conventions - Social Contexts
COMPARISIONS OF EMMA AND CLUELESS CONVENTIONS - SOCIAL CONTEXTS EMMACLUELESSSocial Context: A small village, Highbury, Outside London,19th century, EnglandSocial context: A Beverley hills high school, 1990sThe class/ social groups:Upper/middle class –Knightleys, Woodhouses, Churchills Lower/Middle class – Westons? , Coles, EltonsLower working class – The Martins, Bates,Social Classes not encouraged to mixEmma – ‘ The Martin’s are as above my notice as below it’Social Classes should know their own positionMr E – ‘everybody has their own level’People feel uncomfortable out of their own level eg. HarrietSuperior and Inferior positionsMr Martin is not Harriets ‘equal’Class defines your worth as a personHigher classes may associate with lower classes as a charitable gesture.Attributes such as occupation, wealth, education can affect social rank.Class/Social Groups:The Popular Group – top of the social ladder, wealthy, lots of clothes, cool carsYuppies – stick to themselves – Distinguished by mobile phones, BMW’sValley girls – a lower class, live in the Valley – a poorer neighborhood Loadies – lowest rung of social ladder-drug takers “No respectable group dates them’To increase their social rank they need to give up Drugs.Social groups stick to themselves, rarely mixPeople feel uncomfortable out of their own group Eg. Tai Manners/Etiquette:Victorian restraint –19th centuryGood manners were everythingVery impolite to ridicule others or put others down- (especially someone of a lower class who has not had the same advantages of education and upbringing)Strict codes of etiquette to obeyDifferent rules for different social occasions –{receiving company, flirtations, the street, dinner parties, balls, even for dress}The guidelines of etiquette created a restricted lifestyle – for both men and women – but esp. women. They had to lead proper lives.Etiquette extremely important Not acceptable to break the code of etiquette – Emma does at Boxhill picnic – offends Miss BatesMrs Elton offends everyoneTrue manners should come naturally without trying too hard or makng it noticeable.People of lower classes did not have enough education to know how to act properly
– Robert Martin, Jane Fairfax were well educated and so had good manners.It was not polite to consider yourself superior to others simply because the lower class has less education.Snobbery is NOT good manners Manners/Etiquette:Very little restraint shownPretty much say and do whatever you likeSome good manners are not respectedIt is acceptable to put others down – Tai is insulting to Cher- ‘Why should I listen to youAnyway? You’re a virgin who can’t drive.’There is not set code of etiquette for all to follow.Each social group has its own set of etiquetteDifferent rules for different social groupsGeneral Expectations of a ...
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– Robert Martin, Jane Fairfax were well educated and so had good manners.It was not polite to consider yourself superior to others simply because the lower class has less education.Snobbery is NOT good manners Manners/Etiquette:Very little restraint shownPretty much say and do whatever you likeSome good manners are not respectedIt is acceptable to put others down – Tai is insulting to Cher- ‘Why should I listen to youAnyway? You’re a virgin who can’t drive.’There is not set code of etiquette for all to follow.Each social group has its own set of etiquetteDifferent rules for different social groupsGeneral Expectations of a Gentleman:Expectations were very distinct.Expected to be a gentleman at all times –To be polite, courteous, sensible and of a cheerful manner – a genteel manner.Needs to be well educated and wealthyAlso needs to be downright, decided and commanding. Rational and unaffected around womenRestrained in emotionsTo take an interest in other people To be involved in the community –village affairs, the vicarage etcGeneral Expectations of a Boy:Expectations for boys are not always distinct – at Times very confusingCourteous to girls but not forceful or overpoweringLess reserved in their approach to girlsMore friendly and on an equal levelImportant to be cool, popular and look goodGood manners still important to impress girlsJosh rescues Cher after the mugging by coming to Pick her up, he dances with Tai at the partyCher – Oh look, Josh is dancing with Tai, he never Dances!Murray is not allowed to call Dionne his’woman’ –A degrading termCher on high school boys – ‘They are like dogs , theySlobber all over you. You just need to chain’em and Feed’em.’Cher – ‘I don’t want to be a traitor to my generation But I don’t get how boys dress these days.’General Expectations of a Lady:Ladies are expected to lead ‘proper’ lives – to be sweet, timid and kindWomen of higher social classes were groomed for marriage from an early age – to learn all the rules and regulations to being a lady.Ladies were trained with skills that made her ‘eligible’ – music, French, poetry, painting, needlework, rules of etiquette with menMarried women lead lives of great restriction governed by appropriate manners for every type of social situationEmma tried to teach Harriet these ‘rules’ to ‘improve’ her situationJane Fairfax is accepted as eligible even though she is an orphan because of her beauty and talentLadies were expected to show off their talents at social functions eg. Emma and Jane singing and playing piano.General Expectations of a Girl:Expected to look pretty, wear nice clothesEg. Amber –she could be a farmer in those clothesLook respectable.To not take drugsTo flirt with boysThey need to create their own stabilityIn life – not rely on a boy Girls need to be intelligent, to speak their own Minds, have a good vocabulary, be able to argue aPoint, have their own opinionsMarriage/Courtship/Sex:Strict social conventions for courtshipSubtle inquiries if interestedFlirting techniques, tokens of affectionAttempts made at match making -Potential partners should be ‘matched’ according to social rank – a suitable matchEg Harriet with Robert Martin Emma and Mr KBreaking social understanding of politeness can be seen as reducing level of acceptance Eg. Frank Chuchill and Jane Fairfax A match well made – Miss Taylor and Mr WestonA woman should try to make an equal or better matchA match down is an imprudent match for men or women. Eg. Emma and Mr. Elton Mr Elton and HarrietMr K – ‘Men of sense do not want silly wives’Sex before marriage completely out of the questionMarriage/Courtship/Sex:Set social conventions for dating – such as being pickedUp and dropped off, when to call, what to wear. Inquiries more likely to be directCher – ‘he does dress better than I do, what could IBring to the relationship?’Cher – ‘Christian said he’d call tomorrow, but in boyTime that meant Tuesday.’ Attempts made at matching up friendsGirls more involved in dating – can ask boys out.Girls more involved in wooing – flirting, sendingFlowers, showing skinEg. ‘Sometimes you have to show a little skin. This Reminds boys of being naked and then they think ofSex.Some social barriers to dating Elton on why he could not date Tai-‘don’t you even know who my father is.’Sex a matter of choice -Cher and Dionne still virginsCharacter Representations of Males:Mr. George Knightley - has all the traits admired in a gentleman of the upper class – a superior man.Polite, courteous, sensible and cheerfulChivalric and knightly.Very thoughtful and considerate to others.Downright, decided and commanding manner.One of the few people who find fault in Emma and will talk openly about this.Benevolent Mr Robert Martin – is a decent, hard working and honest gentleman of lower class – seems educated despite being a farmer,very thoughtful, good mannersEager to improve himselfMr Weston – a complete gentlemanA good humored and pleasant man.Always cheerful, gallant.Straightforward and open-hearted man.Well educated.Proud of his son.15- Born of a respectable family that had been rising into gentility and prosperity. (I.e. had been rising in social class)Mr John Knightley – brother of George KnightleyA gentleman but not as kind naturedTall, gentile and clever.A lawyer, respectable in his profession and his private characterReserved manners, sometimes out of humor.Can be ungracious at times.Mr Elton – Has outwardly all the traits of a gentleman, a very agreeable man, good manners but not a strong personality. Tries too hard to be agreeable and well liked esp. by women, shallowA clergymanGood humored, cheerful, obliging and gentle.Very intent on being agreeable.Unnecessarily gallant.Proud and assuming.273- A littleness about him Frank Churchill – all the manners of a gentleman but not honestAn friendly young man, has good manners and is agreeable.However, lacks delicacy towards the feelings of others.121- Proud and selfish. Cares very little for anything other than his own pleasure.Good-looking and handsome.Restless nature.321- “Some parts of his conduct we cannot excuse”Mr Woodhouse – An older man who has all the good qualities of a gentleman – kind-hearted, thoughtful, civilized. Adores and spoils EmmaDoting and anxiousOlder than his years and very health conscious.Friendliness of heart and temper.Quite senile, dislikes change.Looks to Emma for comfort and reassurance.Character Representations of Males:Josh – considerate, thoughtful, kind, reliableTreats girls well – rescues Cher, dances with TaiRespectful to others Travis – is good natured, dramatic and has a positiveAttitude. He is humble and polite.Not very Intelligent [grades and tardiness]Is aware of impressing girls Wants to grow as a personMurray – is cool, a yuppie, friendly, Dionnes boyfriend, cares a great deal for her, veryConsiderate when no one else is around.“keeping it real” – aware of impressions yet still influence by mum and grandfather.“My street slang is an increasingly valid form of expression. Most feminine pronouns have mocking but not necessarily misogynistic undertones”Elton – is superficial. Doesn’t like Tai because he Thinks she is below himSnobbish, fake, self-centered, inconsiderate andPresumptuousRude to teachersBelieves he is better than othersChristian -Mel {Cher’s father} – a litigation lawyerAdores and spoils his daughter,CherCharacter Representations of Women:Emma – ( see Emma Sheet)-handsome, clever, rich, of a happy disposition -Spoilt and adored by her father- considers her ‘perfect’-Very little in her life to vex her -The power of having too much her own way 332-“With common sense, I am afraid I have had little to do”- i.e. she lacks common sense Miss Taylor (Mrs Weston) –Governess to Emma, but a kind friend and mother figure.Kindness, happiness at her marriageMarried to Mr. Weston, she now has a financially stable life.17- Considers herself a most fortunate woman.Adores Emma.13- A rational and unaffected woman.321-Eager to discover some way of being useful-Well mannered.Isabella – Emma’s older sisterA pretty, elegant little woman.Gentle and quiet. Amiable and affectionate.Very family orientated.Not particularly clever.Harriet –Was raised by Mrs. Goddard. Unknown family background. 21- “Short, plump, fair and a look of sweetness”22- Grateful and deserving of encouragement24- Not clever but has a sweet and docile disposition.22- Only requires a little more knowledge and etiquette to be perfect.38- Naïve (Inexperienced)221- “A warm and tender heart with an affectionate and open manner”Miss and Mrs Bates –Mrs. is an old, harmless widow and Miss is an unmarried neither young, handsome or rich.Miss is a happy woman thought of with good will. She is of a simple and cheerful nature.A contented and grateful person – miss.Miss loves everyone and is interested in them.A great talker.Mrs Elton –Easy manner, but not elegant.223- A vein woman, extremely well satisfied with herself and self-involved. 231- Self-important, presuming, familiar and ill-bred. Jane Fairfax –An orphan, raised by the Campbells.Cousin of the Bates88- Very accomplished and superior. 139- Remarkably elegant, a ‘great beauty’ 237- A charming young woman, but not an open temper. She is reserved.Character Representations of Girls:Cher – is a “ditz with a credit card”Stereotypically blond and good looking, spoiltLoves shopping and clothesManipulative eg with dating, attracting attentionFrom boys, improving marks, matchmakingIntellegent, well spoken, not very studiousCharitable to some extentAdored by her fatherDionne – believes appearance is importantQuite controlling eg Murray’s haircut, way he speaksTechnically a virgin – isn’t in a rushTai – Easily influenced by othersAttention seeking eg Mall incidentRepresented as needing a guyMore sexual experience than the other girls yet Willing to be guided socially.Miss Guist – old fashioned, not a confident mannerEnthusiastic about teaching, hard workingEasily manipulatedAmber – very ‘bitchy’, unpleasant, unkindCopies Cher’s style of dressingSomewhat studious, intelligentVery arrogant
