Emma/Clueless Essay

Emma Essay How has the changing place settings influenced the representations of main issues from Emma to Clueless? Amy Heckerlings Clueless is a cinematic reconstruction of Jane Austens 19th coke configurationic Emma and perfectly encapsulates the idea that the issues of a eon, change and adapt with the changing of context. The contemporary text Clueless takes the rustic value placed on courtship, dating and ultimately union as well as the companionable/class distinctions in Regency England and successfully transforms them to better suite the brand-new context of a contemporary audience and less nonindulgent monastic order.In the 19th coke, marriage was the sole occupation of women and was the save way for women to near in neighborly status and to support themselves. Marriage was a fundamental aspect of Austens world and the greatness of marriage is spiritedlighted as Emma states that she is non going to be married and Harriet exclaims in a shocked tone it is so qu eer to hear a woman talk so . For Harriet, and most women in the 19th century, marriage was an economic necessity to provide a static pecuniary future.This is reiterated by Emmas usage of short phrases in a single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old maid which expresses her disdain for those women who do non be in possession of fortunes to match hers and reinforces the value of wealth in relation to marriage. Marriage was therefor, not for sleep with but for wealth, as is exhibit in Mr. Eltons imperative proclamation that he need not so totally discouragement of an equal alliance as to be addressing myself to Ms. Smith The use of the sound out alliance emphasizes the fact that matrimony was for financial benefits.Marriage in Austens time was valued unconditionally and was seen as a means to achieve financial and social stability. While Emma concentratees on the importance of marriage in the unmitigated Regency period, in the contempo rary American setting of Clueless, although marriage is stock-still featured, the focus has shifted to more contemporary themes relating to the sexuality and fluidity of relationships. Chers dialogue when explaining her irresoluteness over who to lose her virginity to You know how picky I a with my shoes, and they only go on my feet shows how sexual relationships baffle replaced marriage in the new context, as Chers dilemma becomes a question of whom to lose her virginity to and not whom to marry. The role of women in courtship has also changed dramatically as is demonstrated by the zoom in on Chers feet rubbing Christians, indicating her relish to have sex with him. This active role in the relationship contrasts starkly with the subservient role women played in the 19th century. Marriage still plays a role in the twenty-first century and this is sh give birth the last photo the marriage of Mr.Hall and Ms. Geist. Heckerling does however, employ satire through Chers voice-over of As if Im only 16 This is California, not Kentucky. when audiences presume that she is marrying to gently handle the 19th century necessity to marry early, once again spotlight the shift away from the importance of marriage. In the 21tst century, marriage has been pushed to the side and values in relationships focus more on sexuality. The social hierarchy of Regency England was rigid and dependent on wealth, property and heritage of the individuals and families.The extreme importance of class is demonstrated through the exaggerated caricature of Mrs. Elton, a woman who is quite a obnoxious, but still thought to be a better receive than the kind-hearted Harriet, simply because of her genteel heritage and wealth. The rigidity of social standings is merely accentuated by Emmas pretentious and condescending tone in the yeomanry argon precisely the people with which I feel I can have nothing to do with where her disdain for Robert Martin, a farmer in love with Harriet, reflect her disdain for those with a lower social standing than herself.Austen however, challenges the prerequisites of her society through her character Mr. Knightley, who shows generosity towards the lower class despite his own high social standing, even describing Robert Martins as respectable, intelligent, gentle. His use of validatory adjectives accentuates Austens view that kindness and charity are more consequential that social superiority an idea that many in her time did not share. Heckerling appropriates 19th century class snobbery and transforms them to better suite the increase multicultural and democratic setting in Clueless.Although class distinction no longer exists, Clueless depicts a social structure based on popularity, appearance and acquaintance in a high school environment. The importance of popularity mirrors the importance of class in Emma and is established through Chers use of dialogue in The fact that you hang with Dionne and I, speaks very highly of you. abutting up shots of Cher and Dionnes disgusted expressions as they scorn Trevor (the Clueless resembling of Robert Martin) again echoes the class snobbery and disdain shown by the genteel in Emma towards those of lesser standing.Heckerling does however emphasize the fluidity and flexibility of 21st century class structure, which is the principal difference between the contexts of Emma and Clueless. Tais graduated change of costume is in direct correlation to her gradual rise in popularity from adorably clueless outcast to the centre of attention set off the superficial and shallow social structure present in the 21st century. Amy Heckerling has taken into consideration the changed context of Clueless and appropriately caused the adapted the Regency England views on social structure to better reflect the class values of the high school setting.