Posted by Eric Abraham on May 19, 2003 at 14:10:48 from 199.240.139.69 user EricAbraham.
In Reply to: Re: Regular topics/not furious: mostly curious posted by Prue Eckett on May 18, 2003 at 21:07:16:
I'm going to stick my two cents worth in here after Prue's comment.
On the subject of "class" - most of our entertainment centers on class distinctions. The "lowers" want to see how the "uppers" live and vice versa. Look at films such as "High Society" and the writings of Charles Dickens. These class differences have fueled profits of theatres and bookstores since they were invented. We need "escapist" literature and theatre, and most of that is built upon class differences. Who wants to read about their own group - boring - we know all about that life already!
Here, in the USA, we are supposed to be a "classless society", but it is evident that we have not achieved that status. If we were able to rid ourselves of class difference, we would invent something else to take its place - plus, it would be an extremely boring world. Class differences, right or wrong, are human nature and one of Facts of Life. However, each individual needs to work to rid themselves of class prejudices, not necessarily class itself. Even the Soviet Union, the "Workers Paradise", had extreme class differences and prejudices which were disasterous, which they can be in any society.
I think that Mr. Ransome used these differences in a positive way to gave us a group of upper middle class children that we could relate to, no matter which group we individually belonged to. We did not feel put down, but lifted up to their level and the lower class people that he brought into the stories became a necessary part of the plot. Now, of course, the Great Aunt, had, I belive, delusions of grandour, she may have been one of the "uppers" but sure had tons of class prejudice - almost like Hyacinth in the great British comedy, "Keeping Up Apearances".
Let us all keep on striving!
Eric Abraham