Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representation at reginal identification and class in the TV drama North and South

There are many stereotypes on the North and South of England and also the views that the people from the areas have on each other. Over the course of the scene stereotypes are mainly matched but on the odd occasion are reversed. The south was a richer area and still is than the north and it was strange for a family to move from the south to north. This scene explores the views of different character types and how they react to certain situations. The mise en scene is an accurate account on how it was such as dirty rag clothing and dark dirty alleyways for the north and nice clothing and luxury homes for the south.

The scene starts with a couple arguing that the audience immediately identifies as being husband and wife. The wife seems to be upset that they have moved from where they were. The title North and South makes it clear to the audience that it is about the difference between life in the North and life in the South. The man is very apologetic and says 'I had no choice' The camera angles used show the man looking down on the woman and the woman looking up on the man because in that time period men were more superior than women. This keeps with the mise en scene and the time period well. The woman steps back into the darkness to signify her end to the argument and emphasises the possible darkness that living in the area may lead them to. The audience sees that this family are quite rich and live in luxury with good quality paintings all around the house.

The scene in the luxury house then moves onto dark alleyways amongst the working class in dirty rags this juxtaposes with the luxury house and emphasises the difference between classes. The woman that is walking down the alleyways is the daughter of the couple in the first scene. The audience knows this because of the slight glance they had of her in the first scene in the house. As she walks non-digetic sound of her reading a letter is read. The voice over is a good way of giving the audience an understanding of what is going on in the scene and also a bit of background information. It also tells you that she is educated that she can read and write and enforces the idea of the 'rich south' The letter reads that she could get used to life 'up North' and 'the people seem nice'. Just as that is read a big flock of men on their break come rushing down the stairs that she is on. She is pushed and assaulted and seems very shocked. The men all grab at her to try and steal from her and clips of action are missed out in this to make the scene more frantic for the audience. During this there are quick shots of the men's legs at a low angle which makes it seem like a stampede and the woman small and venerable. This enforces the stereotype of the North of how they are rowdy, poor and will do anything for money such as stealing. The stereotype is then reversed when a man pushes the others away and gives her back her money. She is very grateful to the man for protecting her and offers him a tip for his services. To her and the audiences surprise he refuses the tip which reverses the stereotype of the people from the north tyring to get money in any way. The scene ends on a high angle open shot when she is free from the stampede which connotes freedom again and her relief.

Overall this extract is split up well into North and South. where it starts with the rich side the southerners life and then moves onto the rough and poor north area. It's ironic that although the south are the richer but are most upset and the north seem happy with life and get on with it.