Thesis:
In this paper I will argue that the
roles for female characters have become more independent and strong through
their actions, dialogue and the size and scope of their roles in the movies;
“Cabiria”(1914), “Cleopatra” (1963) and “Ben Hur” (1927,1959).
Body:
In “Cleopatra” the size and the
scope of the role was drastically different then of the female roles in
“Cabiria” which was produced forty-nine years earlier. In the movie “Cabiria”
the roles of the females didn’t create much of an impact and were more used as
“props” to help the main characters of Fluvius and Maciste. For example, in the
a lot of the scenes which involve Fluvius and Maciste, Cabiria is off to the
side of them or behind them. Forty-nine years later in the movie “Cleopatra”
the female role had grown in size and scope.
In “Cleopatra” Cleopatra (played by Elizabeth Taylor) was one of the
major characters in which the film focused around her and her actions. For
example, Cleopatra uses her sexuality with men as a way to persuade them to do
what she wanted, therefore making her powerful. The change in actions also
changed between the two “Ben Hur” movies.
In the first film production of Ben Hur (1927) the role of Ester changed
from being more abiding and “damsel in distress” to the 1959 “Ben Hur” where
Ester’s actions were more prominent and “gutsy”. For example: the Ester in the
1958 version was more vocal with her opinions and surer about her actions then
the previous Ester in the 1927 version. For example Ester in the 1927 “Ben Hur”
was conflicted about keeping the secret that Ben Hur’s sister and mother were
alive after she saw them. Whereas in the 1959 version Ester has less
confliction about telling Ben Hur that his mother and sister are dead because
she knows that the fact that they are lepers would almost be more hurtful to
the image he had of them before they died. The dialogue of the female
characters throughout all four movies changed from being subservient to the
male characters (Cabiria, Ben Hur (1927)) to becoming more vocal and opinionated
with what they say (Cleopatra, and Ben Hur (1959)).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the roles of females
have become more prominent and independent through the uses of their actions,
dialogue and the size and scope of their roles in the movies; “Cabiria”(1914),
“Cleopatra” (1963) and “Ben Hur” (1927,1959).
You could go into why women obtained a greater role in film by means of historical examples. Also, women in the older movies used their sexuality to influence men as well, perhaps you could elaborate more on the difference and explain and role of the vamp? I also feel you could expand on the size and scope of their role in the movies.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that Cleopatra uses her sexuality to gain power over men, but isn't some of her power taken away by virtue of the fact that she HAS to? If she really had power would she need to seduce them? Or would the simply listen?
ReplyDeleteMost of these movies have more than one major female character, one stereotypically good, one equally bad. In "Cabiria", for example, there is Cabiria herself, the victim and damsel in distress, but there is also Sofonisba, the Carthaginian princess. Similarly, in the 1925 "Ben Hur", the good, selfless Esther is paired with the evil seductress and spy Iras, the Egyptian. One of these paired characters is, of course, usually more important than the other, but I think we need to look at them both, and when we look at the development of these characters, we should compare, say, Sofonisba and Cleopatra, the two vamps from the Orient, because comparing Esther and Cleopatra would be like comparing apples and oranges. That said, Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra does, of course, combine features of both the "good" and the "bad" movie woman.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it should be Fulvius, not Fluvius.
ReplyDelete