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The Magical World of Harry Potter: Social Class and Education in the Classroom
Before the trip, I watched multiple movies and read two books regarding social class issues in England. While doing this, I took notes that pertain to what I am researching in England so I can refer to them later. Below are a few of the exerpts taken from my notebook that helped me understand what to look for while I was overseas.
The 16th Century
The Other Boleyn Girl:
The Other Boleyn girl is about King Henry VIII. It is a historic novel written by Phillippa Greggory. The book is based on the life of the 16th century aristocrat Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn. Through Mary's life we see the anulment of marriage between the Queen ( Catherine of Aragon) because she fails to give the king a male heir to the throne.
At the beginning of the novel, two sisters who hail from a wealthy family join the court of King Henry VIII. Mary captivates the king first and they begin a relationship which results in the birth of two children. Anne, her sister, is instructed to help Mary with the King and then she steals Henry's affection and aims to overthrow Catherine as Queen.
Facts from the Book:
Mary Boleyn had relations with two Kings, Henry VIII and Francis I
If you were family of someone with great power, you benefited highly. Mary was given a pension of 100 pounds a year because her sister was Queen. Mary Boleyn was also described as a slut from Francis I, King of France.
Historically, Anne Boleyn was charged with having relations with her brother and was executed for it.
Throughout the book, I saw alot of rising and falling from specific social groups/classes depending on if you had favor with the king or not.
In the novel, when Anne had favor of the King, he would send her jewels from the Tower of London. Only the Queen was allowed to wear jewelry from the Tower and this gave Anne alot of pride. She was ironically killed at the Tower of London as well, along with her brother.
The castle was used as a prison from 1100-1952 although that was not it's primary purpose. It was bisieged several times and controlling it has been important in controlling the country.
Under the tudors, the tower became used less as a royal residence and despite attempts to refortify and repair, the castles defences lagged behind developmemnts to deal with artillery.
The peak period of the castle was the 16th and 17th century.
Elizabeth I was there before she became Queen.
Only 7 people were executed within the tower before the world wars of the 20th century.
Executions were more commonly held of the notorius Tower Hill, north of the castle.
Basically, any with high standing power was sent to these places per the Queen or King. It was a symbol of power and this was where it was also exercised.
Everyone in England feared the Tower.
During the 16th Century, your social status depended on if you had favor with the King or not. Your standing at court had everything to do with a person and if you were valued or not.
Jane Eyre (2011 Movie)
Jane Eyre is a clash of social classes because the owner of the manor falls in love with a governess, this is unheard of because Jane is below his station. The unfortunate thing about this story is that the Duke is already married to a women that he keeps locked in a tower because she is crazy. Jane is not aware that he is already married and accepts his proposal and attempts to marry him. However, the family of the wife of the Duke shows up at the wedding and tell Jane that she cannot marry the Duke.
Through this movie you see social class through the way people dress and their position withink the Duke's castle. Another example is your family. It is very important to your well-being and who you will marry (much like the 16th century).
The novel that the movies is based off of takes place in Northern England during the reign of George III (1760-1820).
This glimpse into social class throiugh Charlotte Bronte's eyes reflects that of the "Other Boleyn Girl". Family and connections are everything. Jane does not have a good family and therefore is cast out and forced to grow up in a dispicable way. She becomes a governess to get out of the horrors. However, even a governess is looked down upon. Jane does acquire alot of money from her uncle, which she is allowed to keep. There is also no rush in marriage from her non-existent parents. In other novels, such as the Other Boleyn Girl and Pride and Prejudice, we see the parents really pushing to find suitors for their daughters. This was another way of climbing teh social stauts, expecially for oarents. If the daughter married someone wealthy then the parents would be treated well and given money for the same sources.
Elizabeth ( 1998 Movie)
I found this movie on Netflix (along with Jane Eyre). This was the perfect movie because it takes place after the Other Boleyn Girl. The setting is England 1554 and Henry VIII is dead. His eldest daughter Mary (Catherine's daughter) cannot have kids and is dying. Elizabeth is Mary's half-sister (she is Anne Boleyn's daughter). The movie starts off with Mary worried about Elizabeth taking her thrown when she had died. There is a huge war going on between the Protestants and the Catholics as well. Mary is Catholic and is hell bent on making sure England stays that way. Elizabeth is Protestant and is very much an asset to her people if she is put on the thrown.
Since the Queen Mary is worried, she decides to throw Elizabeth in the tower until she can prove that Elizabeth has committed some kind of treason against her. Elizabeth has comitted nothing and is let out of the Tower and banished. That is however, until Mary dies. Then Elizabeth is crowned the new Queen of England and the Golden Age begins. Elizabeth is such a good Queen that she pulls England out of debt and they thrive as one of the richest countries in the world (hence the title the Golden Age).
One remarkable, highly discussed issue in regards to Elizabeth is that she was the virgin Queen who never married. Throughout the movie, so many countries are trying to get her to marry them as a sign of allegience but they all fall through. Everyone is pushing Elizabeth to marry but she refuses for multiple reasons. It is unheard of for a women to not marry a man, expecially with a status such as Queen.
The reason that other countries want someone from their own to marry her because it is not only a rise in social class, but it allows them to have control of another country. You see social status climbers even though they are already Queen's or King's. By marrying someone from another country, expecially if you are a man, you are gaining control of that country as well. Elizabeth does not want to be forced into a marriage because of someone's standing or what country that are from because she is told to. That makes her a very brave Queen because it was expected of her to marry right from the beginning and she refues to do what others wanted of her. I see alot of connections between social class and marriage throughout this movie.
Pride and Prejudice (Book and Movie)
Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813. The story is sent in England in the 19th Century. I used to think the 19th century was forever ago and then when I started to study the 16th century, I realized how much closer it was to our time than I had previously thought.
In the story, the main characters name is Elizabeth Bennett. Elizabeth's sister, Jane, falls in love with a man above her station. This man's name is Mr. Bingley (who is friends with a Mr. Darcy). This relationship proves to be diffcult because of the gap between poverty and wealth levels. Mr. Bingley comes from a very good family and he makes alot of money. Whereas, The Bennett family does not come from wealth and they work for what they have. Their only hope is to marry their daughters off to men that can help them pay for their house, livings, and expenses. Mr. Darcy is completly against this marriage and encourages Mr. Bennett to marry someone else.
Elizabeth falls in love with Mr. Darcy and visa versa throughout the story. This is ironic because Mr. Darcy was so against his friend marrying one of the Bennett daughters. Therefore, he hides his feeings for Elizabeth and is very stubborn in anyting regarding her. Eventually he gives in and tells Elizabeth he loves her and wants to be with her. Everything probably would have worked out if Elizabeth had not of found out about what Mr. Darcy encouraged Mr. Bingley to do in regards to Jane. Mr Darcy ended up getting them together in the end anyways.
So where does social class come in?
The theme of class is also related to this idea of having a good repuation in your community. A good repuation doesnt just come from making no mistakes. It depends on who your family is and whethr you are a "lady" or not. A lady is someone who is thoroughly educated in all aspects of her life (which is really hard to come by).
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