Essay

In the TV Drama; Merlin, class is presented in many ways, through camera, sound, mise-en-scene and editing.

The extract begins with the camera panning around the inside of a castle, establishing higher status and symbolising royalty. Immediately Merlin is centralised with a mid shot on him, this combined with the fact that he is the first character we see, connotes that he is the protagonist within this extract. However, he is wearing old ragged clothing with dull colours such as browns and greens that symbolise low status.

The dialogue also makes it apparent to the audience that the women who later comes on is of higher status as she is patronising towards him and reminds the viewer that Merlin doesn't belong there. Although the eyeline match between them both, indicates equality. This could indicate that although they are of different classes, Merlin may still be at the same level as the women.

Later on when the Prince confronts Merlin, through costumes we can also see that the Prince is upper class, just like the women, who believes he can overpower Merlin just because the Prince is royal. Carrying on, when the Prince throws Merlin the weapon, it implies that the Prince is rich and arrogant, which means he is living up to the stereotypes of the upper class.

Mise en scene is used through well looked after clothes as well as the colour purple which more or less often means royalty. Also Merlin doesn’t have a weapon therefore implying his he is of a lower class and probably cannot afford one, but even if he could because of his class he probably would not be allowed one. However Gias reads book and wears glasses which connotes intelligence and status, this is a huge stereotype for people who wear glasses automatically people will assume they are smart.

Carrying on, the non-diegetic music ends as Merlin leaves the castle grounds. Immediately we see the contrast between the dim lit castle and the bright light outside, connoting that the castle is home to bad people, although they are upper class. This gives a stereotype of how the upper class are normally stuck up and horrible and the lower class are the actual good people.As Merlin walks out into the street, there is a total difference in setting and the combination of the sound of people hustling in the street and people dressed similar to him, indicates that Merlin is among-st his peers and people of the same class.

Despite Merlin being of a lower class he proves that it can be better than being upper class as he still manages to shine above them even though he is not one of them.