The stereotypic notion of marriage as seen in Mona Lisa Smile

Individuals frequently exhibit the social conduct and practices they do as a result of adapting the standards that the pre-existing members of the society created for them. The stereotype that what is commonly practiced is what is right has been formed as a result of the society’s constant change and reliance on individual influences (Stone, 2009). This comparison advances the conflict viewpoint theory, which is portrayed in Mike Newell’s film Mona Lisa Smile. Katherine, who is the main antagonist in the film, portrays a unique kind of social behavior when she chooses to bring a difference to the society that is stereotyped with the notion of marriage and relationship as the optimal status for individuals. At the age of thirty, Katherine interacts with young students from Wellesley College and manages to bring a difference to many of the students through re-defining the dominant social context about marriage. Based on the conflict perspective, it is evident that the status of Katherine as being unmarried at the age of thirty raises questions to the students and provides a mirror about the perceptions of the existing society (Newell, 2003). Therefore, it is evident that the society has been stereotyped to believe that marriage and relationship is the ultimate status as seen in several characters such as Betty and Connie.

Summary of the movie

Newell depicts the life of the main antagonist in the movie, Katherine Ann Watson, who graduated at UCLA from the Department of Art History. At the age of thirty, Katherine engages in her first teaching school, Wellesley College, which provides her with the avenue to experience the varied social behaviors of individuals. The female students that Katherine was lecturing were bright, and as illustrated by Newell (2003), they memorized the whole syllabus. Throughout the interaction with other students, Katherine manages to discover the general opinion dominated by many students in her class. It is evident that most of the students had a certain notion regarding marriage and almost all the ladies were aiming to achieve a good marriage despite educational success.

A critical analysis of the movie

Newell demonstrates the unified behavior of the students with the aim of depicting the stereotypic notion regarding relationships and marriage. For instance, Betty Warren, an outspokenly and opinionated person does not seem to understand why Katherine, despite her age, is not married. This develops the understanding that the society provides a general expectation that a woman should be married by the age of thirty. However, the main question triggered by this illustration is that, should a person who is not married at the mid-life age be subjected to questioning or doubts? This argument is backed up by Betty’s belief about her mother’s advice that she must get married and make her own family for her to be happy (Newell, 2003). Therefore, is marriage the ultimate definition of happiness? Moreover, should every person be married at a certain age to fulfill the expectations of the general society? Therefore, Newell develops the evidence of the stereotype that the society has developed regarding marriage and relationships.

Engaging the conflict perspective theory in ‘Mona Lisa Smile’ movie

Marriage is an institution where two people unite through love and live as one family. The aspect of relationships and marriage is a personal agenda where an individual willingly chooses to engage in at her own preferred age and with the preferred person (Lucas, 2010). The society views marriage as a unique status rounded up with respect and dignity. Many people assume that if one is able to engage in marriage, he or she has reached a certain social status that is marked by recognition and dignity (Stone, 2009). This concept develops the conflict perspective where people overate marriage more than other social aspects. A scholarly study conducted by Stone (2009) regarding the perceptions of married people provided an inference that married people are more caring, loving, giving or kind. These perceptions have been prolonged from the older generation to the young generation thus providing the stereotypic notion about marriage. This study leaves us with the challenge of validating if all that beliefs about marriage is true. Certainly not!

Newell develops the first concept of the stereotypic notion of marriage by depicting the life of Katherine and the perceptions that her students have about her as a single woman. It is quite astonishing to Betty that her teacher is single despite her age. This is seen where Betty conducts an editorial attack on Katherine regarding her belief that women should be on the verge of seeking career rather than being mothers and wives (Newell 2003). This argument that Katherine illustrated to her students did not seem to impress Betty who has grown to believe otherwise. Betty’s parents encouraged her to engage in marriage with her fiancé Spencer despite being a student. It is evident that her parents were pushing this idea for Betty and convinced her that is it the right thing to do. This is because her parents created the stereotype that marriage is a unique engagement and a socially recognizable union (Stone, 2009). However, all this revealed untrue when a series of events began to occur as the movie progressed. After Betty’s marriage, she later comes to find out that her husband is having an affair with another woman. This leads to her breakdown, and after all that effort she gave in marriage, she took a divorce.

The reality demonstrated from this illustration is that marriage is not a simple engagement as stereotyped from media and other public personalities. Betty was made to believe that marriage is a bed of roses and was pressured by her parents to get married. The general society induced her to believe in marriage without understanding its guidelines. After the divorce, she then realizes that she does not want to be married anytime soon and opts to engage in law school.

Secondly, Newell uses Joan to display the stereotype notion of relationships in the society. Joan is a student at Katherine’s class and has been dreaming of joining Pre-law for her further studies. Joan is also married to Tommy, and their marriage seems to stand. Katherine helps Joan to apply the pre-law at Yale Law School, and fortunately, she is accepted. However, she chooses to decline the door opening of her dreams simply because she is married and is in a constant relationship with her husband (Newell, 2003). She goes on to indicate that being a mother and a wife does not render her any less intelligent.”

From the description displayed, it is evident that people in the society value marriage more than any other existing thing (Lucas, 2010). The act of giving up one’s dreams for marriage as seen in Joan’s life is a depiction of the kind of value the society has given to marriage. It would be disappointing that Joan will not be able to achieve her dreams simply because she is married and cannot make any plans to accommodate the two.

In as much as movies portray the social reality, Mona Lisa Smile provides an exaggerated notion about marriage and relationships. From the characters displayed in the movie, all of the ladies valued marriage to the point of making individual sacrifices. This does not happen in the real world since couples tend to engage in an agreement where personal agendas will balance with the family agenda. Furthermore, the notion that people should be married at a certain age is stereotypic and does not seem to exist in the current society. In today’s society, people choose to marry at the age when feel is right (Stone, 2009).

On the other hand, other valid social realities displayed in the film include the societal pressure towards marriage, expectations, and the social problems existing in marriages and relationships. The society has developed an expectation that married people should be granted extra privileges as compared to the single people. This is seen where Betty’s parents expect that Betty will be granted exceptions from attending her classes since she is a married woman (Newell, 2003). In addition, Newell uses Katherine to display the kind of pressure that people tend to encounter when they attain a certain age. In reality, when a person reaches a certain age, it is usually expected of them to have an existing family and children. This societal pressure is reflected in Katherine when she became the center of attraction at her new school for being single at the age of thirty. Furthermore, after Bill breaks up with Katherine, she insults her that she came to the school to seek help rather than helping the students. Generally, this concept tends to reflect the social reality in that single people tend to be problematic and in need of help.

However, Katherine proves the society wrong by depicting a different kind of life, unique from the expectations of the society. Her ideology that people should aim at achieving success rather than being wives and mothers ended up being a valid idea that most of her students, who initially disregarded it, ended up thanking her for the help. Towards the end of the movie, some of the ladies who were initially married ended up in the limelight of realizing the facts that marriage is not the end, and attaining success is the ultimate measure of social status. A person does not have to marry to leave a happy life; rather people define their success based on their inner perceptions (Lucas, 2010). This is seen when Katherine is given her job back but decides to tour Europe after breaking up with Bill for being untrustworthy.

In conclusion, it is evident that the society has set a stereotype notion about marriage and this is revealed in the movie Mona Lisa Smile by Newell. Based on the plot of the story, several students of Katherine have been stereotyped by the society to engage in marriage without understanding its functionality. Newell uses the story to develop the conflict perspective theory and reveals several problems that portray the social realities. The ladies who were married later on realized that their dreams were much valid. Furthermore, engaging in marriage at an early age will hinder someone from accomplishing targeted dreams. Therefore, Katherine was an instrumental character in displaying conflict perspective regarding the stereotyped notion of marriage.

References

Lucas, L. (2010). The Ends of Marriage:. The Theology of Marriage, 50-70.

Newell, M. (Director). (2003). Mona Lisa Smile [Motion picture].

Stone, A. (2009). Marriage Education and Marriage Counseling in the United States; Challenging the stereotype in marriage. Marriage and Family Living, 11(2), 38.