The film ‘Titanic’ is written and directed by James Cameron,
It is an epic action-packed romance set against the
ill-fated maiden voyage of the passenger liner Titanic.
It is an epic action-packed romance set against the
ill-fated maiden voyage of the passenger liner Titanic.
Reading Characters and the Stereotypes they represent:-
Kate Winslet stars as a young upper class American called Rose DeWitt Bukater who falls for a free-spirited steerage passenger, Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.
In this film, James Cameron has highlighted the concept of class by positioning the story of Jack and Rose against the backdrop of the sinking of the Titanic.
The fact is that the two characters are from the two extremes of the CLASS SYSTEM.
Rose was a beautiful young rich girl in the film. She boards the RMS Titanic and as a first-class passenger. She was forced into an engagement to 30-year-old Caledon Hockley by her mother, Ruth so that can maintain their high-class status.
Jack was the film's poor guy who lucks into a ticket on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. He won his way via a poker match. He doesn't quite fit in on the ship though as everyone is rich and stuck up and Jack is just an innocent country boy.
Another stereotype of the time that is raised by the film is that of race. As the ship sinks, many of the third or steerage class passengers, who cannot speak English, have no way of knowing what they should do, consequently they fail to escape. Additionally, we also see the differences in culture between the two classes - the strict and ordered world of first class and the spirited life of steerage.
The conclusions that have come to is of the prime importance during the early twentieth century of the concept of ‘class’; the upper and lower class system whereby the lower class should know their place.
The Complexities :-
When Cal Hockley discovers that Rose has been spending time with Jack he's furious and has Jack arrested on some fake charges of theft. At the movie's end Jack turns down a lifeboat at first so that he can go back and search for Rose who refused a lifeboat to search for Jack. Rose comes back to save him but then hogs the wood that Jack found for them both to rest on and he dies.
Back up Statements with evidence from the film :-
Rose's mother wants her to marry one man who is rich and believes that she must personally see to it that her daughter marries into another family of prestige and wealth. Rose disagrees with this and she wants to love another Jack. She was contemplating killing herself by jumping into the ocean but was stopped by Jack. Then, she feels alive with Jack as she never truly had to take risks for herself considering the sheltered life she has led. Rose surrenders herself to Jack who paints her and ultimately loves her.
In this film, James Cameron has highlighted the concept of class by positioning the story of Jack and Rose against the backdrop of the sinking of the Titanic.
The fact is that the two characters are from the two extremes of the CLASS SYSTEM.
Rose was a beautiful young rich girl in the film. She boards the RMS Titanic and as a first-class passenger. She was forced into an engagement to 30-year-old Caledon Hockley by her mother, Ruth so that can maintain their high-class status.
Jack was the film's poor guy who lucks into a ticket on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. He won his way via a poker match. He doesn't quite fit in on the ship though as everyone is rich and stuck up and Jack is just an innocent country boy.
Another stereotype of the time that is raised by the film is that of race. As the ship sinks, many of the third or steerage class passengers, who cannot speak English, have no way of knowing what they should do, consequently they fail to escape. Additionally, we also see the differences in culture between the two classes - the strict and ordered world of first class and the spirited life of steerage.
The conclusions that have come to is of the prime importance during the early twentieth century of the concept of ‘class’; the upper and lower class system whereby the lower class should know their place.
When Cal Hockley discovers that Rose has been spending time with Jack he's furious and has Jack arrested on some fake charges of theft. At the movie's end Jack turns down a lifeboat at first so that he can go back and search for Rose who refused a lifeboat to search for Jack. Rose comes back to save him but then hogs the wood that Jack found for them both to rest on and he dies.
Back up Statements with evidence from the film :-
Rose's mother wants her to marry one man who is rich and believes that she must personally see to it that her daughter marries into another family of prestige and wealth. Rose disagrees with this and she wants to love another Jack. She was contemplating killing herself by jumping into the ocean but was stopped by Jack. Then, she feels alive with Jack as she never truly had to take risks for herself considering the sheltered life she has led. Rose surrenders herself to Jack who paints her and ultimately loves her.
I notice that how the movie played with the color of the clothes to differentiate the types of people. For example, there is a scene where three rich madams wearing full white having tea together, bragging and talking about their life, and the lady in black who join them later on. The difference in color shows that the ladies in white symbolizes high and pride, and somehow, bad while the black symbolizes humble and caring as she helped Jack in suiting up for dinner.
ReplyDeleteAnother scene was the scene after dinner, where Jack and Rose dance in the 'poor region' of the ship. It shows the gap or difference or complexity of the higher class and the lower class. It also gives the message of simplicity is sometimes better than rules and manners. Who needs 4 spoons 3 knives and 2 forks to eat dinner? We just need 1 each.
ReplyDeleteI'm agree to what KooKoozai say ,there is another hidden symbol in a scene , when Jack and Rose dance in the "poor party",the camera suddenly change to the dining room,which used by first class passagers , we can notice that , when inside d "poor party", everything seen like very noisy , but after the camera change to the dining room , it is almost completely silence ， the director and editor are use this scene very wisely to create this symbol to the audience
ReplyDeleteThe place of the ship in Titanic also resemble certain meaning and status. From the beginning of the movie when rose leave the dining room and head to the upper deck for some fresh air and was noticed by jack from the lower deck. Upper deck usually belongs to people with higher status or rich people, which the lower deck for 3rd class people. in that scene, Tommy Ryan said " First class dogs come down here to take a shit "...From this sentence, we can know that usually people with higher status are usually look down on the other class of people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Yeoh statement about the status class of people when aborting a ship. I do like the design of the entire ship and its interior. I can say that the ship is a very good success because during that period of time, materials and technology are limited therefore in order to produce a magnificent cruise ship. Therefore in a cruise ship, it is divided according to class status such as the higher class will be staying at the upper part of the ship and have the chance to enjoy the facilities inside it but for lower class, they will be staying at the lower part of the ship and will not have the chance to use the facilities there.
ReplyDeleteThe titanic itself represents something that is tremendously grand; and it was the very few advance technology that was invented during that era. It was not just a ship it was a proud symbolic figure. The ship has a hierarchy arrangement based on the passengers’ status or wealth. For example, it is noticeable through the interior. The wealthy passengers get a room each that has similar facilities to a house and it is well decorated. However for the poor, they were given sharing dorms with Double Decker beds. Another similar classification of class can be seen also through entertainment of these two classes. Rose and her family which are from the upper class dine at a quiet ballroom surrounded by orchestra music. When Jack brought her to his part of the ship, which was from the lower class, which also provides entertainment, it was a different surrounding. The loud cheering crowd and music shows it all. This signifies that certain qualities can be interpreted and read.
ReplyDeleteIn the Titanic, we can see how people are always categorizing other, how they treat the poor. You can see how the Rich people's in the movie live, and how the poor live. We also know that how they dress, and what they do. It is a stereotypical way of portraying the poor and the rich, but it is true
ReplyDelete