Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representation of regional identity and class

The extract constructs many key differences between the regions North and South, as the title of the series is so called, by showing us the stark different living conditions through the 3 different scenes. The first scene consisting of what can be presumed to be a husband and wife arguing over why the husband had to leave his job and how this can not go on. During this argument a clear distinction is shown between the genders via the wife's way of arguing, during the entire scene she only once raised her eyes to the husbands which was at the very climax Where before she is shown as a smaller and weaker character via the camera first using a point of view shot and then showing a medium shot of the characters enforcing the height differences. Furthermore rather than continuing the argument once she has voiced her opinion she slowly backs away into the shadows of the houses hallway, connoting the end of the argument, her feelings on the subject being dark and of course their households fall from the light of the south to the gritty and darkness of the north. Her comment within the argument on the nature of the northern people also shows her feelings, “Its all money and smoke! That's what they eat and breath!”, displaying an earthy bunch akin to her more upperclass opinion of one self.

The young women, who appears to be the daughter of the 2 previous characters is then shown as walking around in what appears to be a common northern industrial town. This is a stark difference between the well furnished house with paintings and rugs to the dark, gloomy, baby crying, dog barking filled alleyway on which the young women is walking. The difference of the area is then also shown by the overlay of the young women reading what we presume to be a letter she is sending to a friend claiming that the area is lovely and green with friendly faces to help you on your way which is totally different to the reality. Although this reading of the letter shows that the young women is literate so she can read and write, which further enforces the richness image of the south compared to the north. Before carrying on into the next scene we then have the young women walking into a tunnel with a bright light at the end shining down into the darkness of the alleyway, as though her journey is leading her to a brighter place even if she is now currently in the dark.

The final scene consists of a non-diagetic whistle noise as the young women is walking down some steps and we then have a vision of a horde of factory workers rushing down the steps as though they were a herd of wild animals rushing for food with no care in the world, this image is shown by the high angle shot of the factory workers feet and legs in numerous numbers above the young women's head. Furthermore a clear difference is shown from her and them via their manner of talking. Clothing as well as the men and women bustling and pushing like equals akin to the young women's mother and father argument in the previous scene.

The stereotypical image of the north is then shown here via their rough attitude towards the young women by how they poke fun and only apologise in an after thought manner. It is also shown by the playful thievery of her personal belongings and the fun the male factory worker has taunting the young women of her money. However this stereotype is then reversed via a 2nd male factory worker who scares off the first and gives back the young women's belonging and then even goes as far to lead her safely to a carriage. Again the man goes against the northern stereotype of being desperate for money by turning down the money they young lady offers him and just tells her to head on her way. This all leads to an overhead shot as though the young women was flying away from the trouble with a final shot in the scene with the male factory worker looking large and incharge following the carriage disappear with his eyes.

To conclude the extract is split up to show a clear distinction between the North and the South with the south being rich having paintings, rugs and expensive clothing akin to the North having poor condition clothing, working in a factory and being displayed primary in dark gloomy alleyways and as a mob. However the final clear differences between the 2 is how the Southerners are upset with the lot and in the young women's case feel she has to lie about her surroundings where as the Northerners seem content and happy with their life.

How does Bleak House build up tension and mystery in the extract?

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Bleak House builds up mystery in a number of ways, a key method is using blurred objects under or around the characters adding the effect depth of field thereby making the audience feel like they are spying into an event they shouldn't be.

The depth of field is further used throughout the sequence enabling the viewer to see who the action is centred around such as the conversation between the lady and the lawyer enabling the audience to see vivid detail of their expressions.

Tension is built up throughout the first minute or so by the ladies bluntness to cut to the chase, portraying nervousness as well as fear, which is also shown through shots with the reflecting of the characters on glass as thought there is another layer to the true goings on.

The tension is truly built up when the lady views the dropped letter. Firstly we have the extreme close up of the name "John" along with a non-diagetic screeching noise. This shocks the audience who due to only having quiet music and a little diagetic noise in the background, which all adds to the connation of fear.

Secondly we then have the ladies heartbeat quickly increasing in speed and her nervous questions asking about the writer of the letter yet the lawyer says he does not know. This then creates a sense of a critical happening due to all things mentioned and the increasing fidgety movement of the lady and her escalating heartbeat.

The audience is then shown a point of view shot from the ladies perspective looking at the letter which is displayed with an edited outline being blurred adding the overall affect of being dizzy and confused, with this added to the escalating overlayed heartbeat it all leads top the climax of the lady fainting dramatically onto the floor.

The tension slowly dissolves when the lady is taken out of the room however it quickly rebuilt via the lawyer actions. We first have a zoom in of the lawyer and then an extreme close up of the same name "John" and a sudden close up of the lawyer looking after her with a curious expression as thought he is privy to some information we're not.

To conclude Bleak House builds up tension and mystery through the lady and lawyers actions and reactions to each other.