Classism and Greed and Zombies Economic issues afflict the modern American citizen; namely the housing crash in 2008, the disappearance of the middle class, the crippling national debt, and the divide between the one percent and the rest of the population. The struggle amongst classes, however, can be seen throughout history and is by no means a new topic. The 2016 film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies presents such strife in Georgian era setting while also peering through a modern lens. The zombies of the film, despite not occupying a large portion of screen time, come to represent the poor man's struggle against the rich. Or from the perspective of those on top, the greed impoverished people possess and the means in which they resort to in
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Women must be accomplished in the arts of dance, music, and other feminine pursuits as well as trained in deadly arts. Mr. Bennett is particularly adamant about his daughter’s training by sending the girls to the Shaolin temple in China. However, his daughters are ridiculed for this. The affluent population trained instead in Japan; their training becomes a symbol of status rather than a method of survival. Indeed, the Bennett sisters are some of the only women in the film shown in combat, the only other woman being Lady Catherine. Despite women being able to fight, the patriarchal society still forbids women from inheriting their father’s assets. Therefore, Mrs. Bennett is concerned for her daughters after her husband’s death and seeks rich husbands for them. One of her daughters, Jane, catches the attention of Lord Bingley. After this happens Mrs. Bennett orchestrates opportunities between her daughter and Mr. Bingley. In one scene, Mrs. Bennett drunkenly discusses how great her daughter will live married to Bingley. This is overheard by Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy, who convinces Bingley to break off the engagement to Jane Bennett. The Bennett’s status as a lower class family portrays them as gold diggers despite the genuine affection Jane held for Mr. …show more content…
Wickam. Wickham had tried to elope with Darcy’s younger sister in hopes to gain her considerable fortune. This is not the only cause for tension between Darcy and Wickham. Wickham was the son of the Darcy family steward; he was raised alongside Darcy and left a large inheritance by Darcy’s father. After this was announced, Darcy’s father was tragically infected by a zombie and beheaded by his son. Wickham wasted his inheritance quickly and asked increasingly more of Darcy until eventually running off with Darcy’s sister, Georgiana. The revelation of Wickham’s wickedness is further enforced by his status as a member of the undead. Wickham and his zombie brethren attempt to destroy London and nearly succeeds. His strategic attacks on Parliament and governmental buildings send the city into chaos. Jeffrey Cohen comments in his work Monster Culture (Seven Theses) that, “[b]y revealing that difference is arbitrary and potentially free-floating, mutable rather than essential, the monsters threatens to destroy not just individual members of society but the very cultural apparatus through which individuality is constituted and allowed.” (Cohen 12). Wickham does not only destroy the Darcy family but eradicates London, which is composed of the upper class, specifically the monarchy and government. Even after Wickham is thought to be defeated, the post credit scene of the film unveils that he has survived and
Women must be accomplished in the arts of dance, music, and other feminine pursuits as well as trained in deadly arts. Mr. Bennett is particularly adamant about his daughter’s training by sending the girls to the Shaolin temple in China. However, his daughters are ridiculed for this. The affluent population trained instead in Japan; their training becomes a symbol of status rather than a method of survival. Indeed, the Bennett sisters are some of the only women in the film shown in combat, the only other woman being Lady Catherine. Despite women being able to fight, the patriarchal society still forbids women from inheriting their father’s assets. Therefore, Mrs. Bennett is concerned for her daughters after her husband’s death and seeks rich husbands for them. One of her daughters, Jane, catches the attention of Lord Bingley. After this happens Mrs. Bennett orchestrates opportunities between her daughter and Mr. Bingley. In one scene, Mrs. Bennett drunkenly discusses how great her daughter will live married to Bingley. This is overheard by Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy, who convinces Bingley to break off the engagement to Jane Bennett. The Bennett’s status as a lower class family portrays them as gold diggers despite the genuine affection Jane held for Mr. …show more content…
Wickam. Wickham had tried to elope with Darcy’s younger sister in hopes to gain her considerable fortune. This is not the only cause for tension between Darcy and Wickham. Wickham was the son of the Darcy family steward; he was raised alongside Darcy and left a large inheritance by Darcy’s father. After this was announced, Darcy’s father was tragically infected by a zombie and beheaded by his son. Wickham wasted his inheritance quickly and asked increasingly more of Darcy until eventually running off with Darcy’s sister, Georgiana. The revelation of Wickham’s wickedness is further enforced by his status as a member of the undead. Wickham and his zombie brethren attempt to destroy London and nearly succeeds. His strategic attacks on Parliament and governmental buildings send the city into chaos. Jeffrey Cohen comments in his work Monster Culture (Seven Theses) that, “[b]y revealing that difference is arbitrary and potentially free-floating, mutable rather than essential, the monsters threatens to destroy not just individual members of society but the very cultural apparatus through which individuality is constituted and allowed.” (Cohen 12). Wickham does not only destroy the Darcy family but eradicates London, which is composed of the upper class, specifically the monarchy and government. Even after Wickham is thought to be defeated, the post credit scene of the film unveils that he has survived and