Pretty Right?

Pretty Women, and the famous fairy tale of Cinderella share the same idea in common. Pretty Women, is a nineties version with a little less fiction and a little more harsh reality than Cinderella. Julia Roberts plays a carefree prostitute named Vivian Ward. Her co-star Richard Gere is a successful corporate terminator named Edward Lewis.

Their lives are worlds apart until they meet on the corner one night. In a matter of days Vivian goes from rags to riches, her new sweetie Edward opens her eyes to the finer things in life. Vivians energetic spirit challenges Edwards no non- sense, business minded approach to life. Vivian had a blast working for Edward, so much she accidentally fell in love with him. When it came time for Vivian to leave, Edward offered her an apartment, clothes, happiness, all paid for if she stayed. Vivian refused and was disappointed in Edwards poor decision to buy her the way he had everyone else. Eventually, Edward understands what Vivian wanted, and goes to rescue his love, not with his money, but with his heart.

Vivian embodies feminism, while she is a hooker, we really dont see her plying her trade, except with Edward. (Of course sex with him is fine, since we know they really love each other. In fact, any sexual tension is not whether or not Vivian and Edward will have sex but if and when they will kiss, an act deemed much more intimate by many prostitutes than intercourse. )

In a more general view at the beginning of the movie we can see the Marxist approach to it, the difference between classes, the rich and the poor, this is evident in scenes s uch as the one when Viv enters the Boutique Shop and is refused from one of the workers telling her that she couldnt afford whats sold in there but they fine with her when she comes back with Edward dressed as a high class lady, this clearly shows the incapability between this two classes to communicate and they judge each other only from gestures or clothing, interested only in the outer appearance not in the human being inside.

How are we to judge this emphasis on materialism? Again, being a consumer is no longer a feminist dirty deed. We can look at Pretty Womans heroine as a cogent example of a character who may not embody feminism, but neither is she pre- or anti-feminist; rather, she is post-feminist. While the emphasis on shopping may sound like a pre-feminist ploy -- a Woman who constructs herself in order to get her man -- the post-feminist also has ideas about her life and being in control which clearly emanate from feminism. She may manipulate her appearanc e, but she doesnt do it just to get a man on the old terms. (Thinking of Melanie Griffiths character in Mike Nichols film Working Girl; she wants a career AND Harrison Ford.) In Pretty Woman Vivian wont settle for being kept as Edwards beck and call girl, but instead holds out for the whole fairytale, i.e., marriage. Vivian also believes in the importance of family. For example, when Edward tells her how successful he is, the first thing Viv says is that his parents must be proud of him. She is also instrumental in bringing together Edward and Mr. Morse -- a father stand-in for Edward. Thus, Viv is not the selfish, shallow companion that Edward believes his ex-wife and former girlfriend have been. In other words, its as if (as suggested above) Vivian is merely posing as a prostitute, while shes really splendid wife material, despite her lack of chastity.

Finally, all the movie says is that you can be a harlot -- in executive offices or on the streets -- but if you look like you live in Beverly Hills, then people will suck up to you and it won't matter who you are or what you do to acquire your money, just as long as you spend lots of it. Of course, it is beyond the scope (or intention) Pretty Woman to sharpen this into an ironic or satirical point. The bleak notion is just there on the screen, acknowledged and reinforced, but never questioned.

The fairy tale aspect of the picture almost works like a charm, thanks to the actor's performance; but fails to bleach out the movie's darker implications about what money can and cannot buy in America's culture of greed.

The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in Advice Dissertation writing and Analysis Dissertation consulting. Get free samples of essays, courseworks and Analysis Essay.

Author:: Sharon White
Keywords:: Woman, Cinderella,
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