Representation of Class - Merlin (Revision)

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of class and status.
This extract represents class and status in various different ways. Key scenes such as Merlin in the building, the scene in the village, and the fight scene are the main scenes in which these representations occur. Generally, stereotypes concerning class and status are reinforced, however, one character does challenge these stereotypes.
In the first scene when Merlin enters a room that is unknown to the audience, he is represented as someone of a low class and status. A panning mid shot of the room reveals the miss-en-scene of a luxurious setting, which includes fur throws, a wooden desk, flowers, and curtains, creating a busy scene that appears to belong to a person of high class and status and of wealth. This contrasts with the costume of Merlin, as he is stereotypically dressed as someone of a lower class - he is wearing rough clothing, most noticeably the ragged scarf, overall presenting himself as a character who is not dressed in a smart manner. This is revealed through the mid shot that is used as he enters the room. As well as this, non-digetic synchronous sound is used during this scene to create tension and build anticipation. This implies to the audience that Merlin is trespassing, and is not supposed to be lingering in the room for so long, conforming to the modern stereotype that members of the lower class often commit crime. Throughout this scene, unsteady camera movement is used to reflect the nervous atmosphere created due to the unauthorised access and the chance that he may get caught. Editing is also used to reinforce the sense of trespass, for example the sharp cut to Merlin looking over his shoulder as this gives the audience the impression that he is conscious of being caught and cautious of his actions. The camera then again cuts to a woman walking towards the room to show that someone is approaching. The camera zooms to a close up shot to reveal her costume of a smart, low cut and full length dress, which would have been a stereotypical representation of a high class woman who is also of a high status, in the period of time that this was set in. This is yet another contrast to the representation of Merlin and presents his character to be out of place in a building that is inhabited by people of such high status and wealth.
This representation is continued throughout the following scene in the village. A tracking mid shot shows a low working class society, which is revealed through the mise-en-scene of the scene, as people are dressed poorly and appear to be doing manual labour that would pay highly and would be seen as a working class man's job from superiors. A mid shot shows a close up on and focal on Merlin's facial expressions as he is confronted by a group of boys who are visible in the back of the shot. These boys are wearing armour and clean cut clothing, whilst holding weapons, suggesting that they are of a high social class, a contrast to their surroundings. The clash between their higher class and Merlin's lower class is being used as a source of humour through the use of insults that they throw at each other, which is a typical convention of using social ranks in a TV drama. The leader of the group of boys expects to be treated like loyalty because of his higher social class. This is shown through the dialogue, "You can't address me like that that." This snobbery is a stereotype of people from the higher class and is mostly reinforced from someone of the lower class' perspective. This scene ends with an over the shoulder high shot with a tilted camera angle to look down on Merlin, this amplifies the boys' superiority and power over Merlin as a lower class boy and their weapons are posing as a threat.
In the final fight scene, non-digetic synchronous sound suddenly begins to play to speed up the pace of the scene and creates a triumphant mood for the boy challenging Merlin. Levels are also used to show that, as a result of his high class, his power over Merlin. This is shown through a mid shot with a tilted camera angle to look up at the boy from the perspective of Merlin, giving the boy superiority and dominance. A close up shot shows the flail hitting a fruit, which reflects what damage it would do to human flesh, reinforcing the threat of power that the boy withholds over Merlin due to his high status. The slow motion used in this shot creates focus and makes the audience identify this threat. This stereotype of power in the higher class is a stereotype that is relevant in modern day society as well as the society that is portrayed in the extract. However, a shift in power and control occurs in this scene as a person from the lower class suddenly begins to gain control over someone in the higher class. This reverse in roles if amplified through the change in levels, a tracking close up shows the boy falling to the ground and Merlin stood looking over him. This shows Merlin's brief moment of dominance over the boy and does not conform to the previous stereotypes that have previously been portrayed in this extract. However this is only a short moment of glory as a midst allows us to see the attack of the boy and the levels switch once Merlin falls to the floor yet again.
This extract represents the strict social class system of the time that this drama was set in and some of which would not be relevant in modern society. However, some stereotypes are still repeated. Only for a brief moment of time are any of these stereotypes of class challenged, therefore presenting a very stereotypical extract concerning the are of representation of class and status.
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