Discuss the representation
of class and status in the clip from Cranford
The difference in class
and status between the characters can be clearly noted. The mise en scene in
this clip helps to show the difference between the characters. For example the
audience automatically know Harry is poor and off a low status as he is shown
to not be wearing any shoes at the beginning of the clip. His clothes are dull in colour and
appear to be of a low quality and dirty. The image of Harry easily transfers to
the entire lower class during that period of time, we know this as when the
audience are shown the rest of Harry’s family they are all in dark, dirty
clothes. In comparison Mr Carters clothes look of a lot high quality, this
shows the audience that he is off a high class and can afford to buy more
expensive clothing. This can be said also for the other upper class characters;
they are all shown to be in clothes that can be assumed are expensive when in
comparison to a lower class character. The two environments the characters are
shown in also show how class and status differ between the characters. Harry
for example is shown to be living in some kind of shack like house; the
audience first see the dull exterior which carries on inside the house. The
house is very dim in lighting, this the lack of money the family has as they
cannot afford things people would class as necessities such as lighting as they
are only showed to have a candle on the table. The audience also get an insight
into the cramped conditions Harry would be living in are 5 people are shown to
be living in this tiny space. In comparison the environment Mr Carter lives in
appears to be a lot better. We
are first shown Mr Carters office which in comparison appears bigger than the
house Harry lives in. The later shot of the house shows the audience that Mr
Carter is of a high social class; he is shown having people working for him
even though he is just Lady Ludlow’s land agent he carries more social status
than others. The sympathy Mr Carter shows to Harry by giving him food and a job
my show that he was once of a similar situation. This could be shown when Mr
Carter tells Harry that he can still turn his life around. Lady Ludlow contrasts the image of upper
class, as even though her looks are better than those of the lower class
people, she doesn’t have the same spark and energy the other characters. Lady
Ludlow carries some characteristics of Miss Havisham, through the way she
dresses.
The continuity editing throughout
this clip also helps to show class and status. At the beginning of the clip
when the camera follow Harry through the woods the audience gets the impression
that he’ll be an important character as the focus is on him. The beginning scene
also helps the audience get a feel for the environment as the camera shows the
dark and gloomy wooded environment. The later shot reverse shot between Harry
and his father show the father’s disapproval to the fact his son is trying to
be educated. These show his own embarrassment of not being educated. The shot reverse
shot used between Harry and Mr Carter show Mr Carter’s shock at the way Harry
reacts. For example when Harry begins to lick his hand there is a shot reverse
shot that shows his reaction that Harry is trying to get salt from the palms of
this hands. A shot reverse shot is later used again when Harry asks what an ice
room is, this time it shows the confusion on Harry’s face as it is a known word
for Mr Carter. While the party is being set up there are straight edits that
show how all the different people are working in order to create a party for
the upper class.
There is a low angled shot
of Lady Ludlow on the stairs; this shows the audience she is of a high status
than the others in the scene as she is higher up than them. It can also be
known to the audience that Mr Carter is a lower status that Lady Ludlow as he
allows her to walk away first and his back a bit from her. While Lady Ludlow is
on the stairs the audience can see two butlers waiting by the doors, this again
shows Lady Ludlow’s high social status as she has people waiting on her. When
Mr Carter is first brought into the scene there is a mid shot of his boots.
This contrasts to the first shot of Harry in which he is bare foot. This shows
how Mr Carter is wealthy and of a higher status as he is wearing boots that
look expensive, while Harry wore no shoes and was later given a second hand
pair of boots. A lot of camera angles are used to show status as authority in
this clip, one being when the Doctor rides in on a horse there is an extreme
long shot that makes his seem important as all the attention is on him. The
audience also see how Harry’s social status makes him appear weaker, this is
shown when he is laying on the floor and there is a high angled shot. The
difference in class can also be seen when there is a long shot of Mr Carter and
Harry walking away, this shows the difference in how they dress as mainly the
audience notices that Harry isn’t wearing shows and Mr Carter is. It can also
be commented on that Mr Carter has grabbed hold of Harry showing that maybe he doesn’t
trust to him run away, this could be because he feels like lower class children
don’t have the morals to do what there told and that Harry would run away, so
he doesn’t get in trouble, as he cares for his family and they wouldn’t cope
without him. The establishing shot in Mr Carters office shows how the two characters
environments differ, even though Mr Carters office isn’t as lavish as Lady Ludlow’s
house it’s a great improvement on Harry’s house.
The main difference between
the sound in this clip would be between the way in which the characters talk.
Lady Ludlow and Mr Carter talk better than Harry’s family as they would have
had some kinds of education. The ways in
characters communicate with each shows the vulnerability of the lower class.
For example when Mr Carter finds Harry in the green house he automatically
defends himself in the hope of not getting in trouble. This could show that the
lower class are always thought to be doing wrong. When Harry is walking up to
the house as well as he is exploring the green house there is eerie non diegetic
music in the background. This changes and there are noticeable piano keys in
the background when Harry sees the grapes hanging down, this draws the audience’s
attention as they wonder whether or not Harry will take the fruit. There is sad
background music when Harry falls to the ground licking his hand; this makes
the audience feel pity for Harry. While the staff are setting up for the party
there is again background music, this time the music sounds like it would suit
a upper class environment which shows the audience what kind of event the staff
are setting up.
