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Critical Analysis Of Gosford Park

Decent Essays

In the movie called, “Gosford Park” the film distinguishes social class between upper and lower class. The movie starts with a fancy party hosted by Sir William McCordle and Lady Sylvia McCordle. The party has invited a house full of guests for a shooting party. The guests include Sir William sister, Constance, the Countess of Trenham, who depends on an allowance he is constantly threatening to withdraw, Lady Sylvia’s sister Louisa, who like Sylvia had to marry for money. Lastly Louisa’s husband, Commander Anthony Meredith is also invited to the party along with Lavinia, who is married to Raymond, Lord Stockbridge. And the Hollywood star Ivor Novello. Beneath the stairs is the butler Jennings, the housekeeper Mrs. Wilson, and the cook Mrs. Croft. In the movie the guests have to perform certain roles to satisfied their owner. For example, Lady Constance is threatened with financial ruin. Novello has to sing for their supper; while below stairs, a man like Jennings is obviously extremely happy to head the staff of a great house. The conflict begins when Sir William McCordle was murdered. One of the main issues being satirized in “Gosford Park” is the absurdity of class distinction in society. Altman satirizes the idea of a social hierarchy, where people are separated into different classes based on their amount of wealth and aristocracy, and are forced to live different lives and be different people. He highlights the negative effects imposed on society, especially the upper

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