Argumentative Essay On Pretty Woman

Thesis Paper
ID 350 Images of Beauty
Patricia Krapesh
Monday March 16, 2015

The movies Pretty Woman (1990) starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and the movie, Now Voyager (1942) starring Bette Davis and Paul Henreid, are completely different films. The two movies even though they are different there are correlations between the two. For example, they both have strong female roles but both women in each movie are completely different. So which movie has the better female role for young women? The movie Pretty Woman is about a businessman who hires a “prostitute” for business social events. While at an upscale party held by Edwards partner Philip Stuckey, Edward cuts loose in Stuckey 's Lotus. He gets lost and stops
along Hollywood Boulevard for directions from hooker Vivienne Ward (Julia Roberts). She gets in, and ends up driving him to his hotel in Beverley Hills. He asks her up to his penthouse suite on a whim and pays her to stay all night. The following morning he asks her to stay all week for $3000. He also gives her money for clothes and says she needs to be at his "beck and call" with no strings attached. She calls her roommate Kit (Laura San Giacomo) to leave her money for the rent, and goes shopping on Rodeo Drive for more appropriate clothes. After no help from the salespeople, Vivienne returns to the hotel, where the hotel manager stops her. He wants to make it clear that they are making an exception having her at the hotel, as Edward is such a special guest. When Edward returns, he is amazed by Vivienne 's new look. The business dinner goes well, but Edward is preoccupied with the deal afterwards. The next day, Vivienne tells him about the experience shopping the previous day, and Edward takes her back to spend an obscene amount of money on clothes, leaving her to go back to his work as she is transformed from hooker to a lady. She goes back to the shop from the previous day to show them the big mistake they made! Back at the hotel, she looks like a genuine guest, but when Edward gets home he is still busy with work, and they take a bath together and talk all night about their pasts and how they ended up where they are today. The following day, Edward takes Vivienne to a work get together.
While Vivienne chats to David Morse, the grandson of the man involved in Edward 's latest deal, Philip is worried she is a spy. Edward reassures him by telling him how they met, and Philip then comes on to Vivienne. Edward leaves work early the next day and takes Vivienne on a date to the Opera in his private jet. She clearly enjoying the music, "If I forget to tell you later, I had a wonderful time tonight.” About to close the deal, Edward changes his mind at the last minute. His time with Vivienne has shown him another way of being - taking time off and enjoying life - and working. He wants to create things rather than just making money. Vivienne leaves, and is seen back at home with Kit, packing up to leave for San Francisco. Edward gets into the car with the chauffeur that took her home, and rather than going to the airport, he goes to her apartment and climbs up the fire escape (despite being afraid of heights) with a rose in his mouth, to woo her like in a fairy-story (Lawton,
1990) The movie, Now Voyager, is about an over-weight woman Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) who does not have any self-esteem, and is controlled by her mother. Charlotte is deeply depressed, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, due to the constant squashing of her thoughts by her mother. There is a little spark of independence, though--she secretly smokes and expresses some creativity by carving ivory boxes. Then a psychiatrist, Dr. Jaquith, is invited to tea by her sister-in-law Lisa Vale, where Charlotte meets Dr. Jacquith. He tells Charlotte that he can help her, that he can show her which path to take. After an ugly scene with her niece June Vale, Charlotte finally accepts Dr. Jaquith 's offer. The hospital offers the attention and crucial building up of her self-esteem. She changes from a mouse to an attractive figure of social grace and appeal. On a holiday cruise, Charlotte tries out her new persona, the test run that Dr. Jaquith encouraged to evaluate her level of recovery. Charlotte grows comfortable with her new image; she is no longer awkward with company around but reserved enough to be interesting. You could tell that her confidence level was improved tremendously, however, easily shaken. A French man, Jerry Durance, becomes fascinated with her while on the cruise and soon he was so in love with her that he could barely think of being without her. Charlotte loves him too, but knows that their affair must be kept a secret, because Jerry is married. They go their separate ways, at last, much to the despair of Jerry. She returns to her home in Boston, and becomes involved with Elliot Livingston. Nevertheless, she does not love him and soon the engagement is over. Even worse, after an argument with Charlotte, Mrs. Vale has another heart attack and dies. Charlotte returns to the clinic for an emotional breakdown. She meets a young girl who is very shy and not very pretty. Soon she discovers it is Tina, the youngest daughter of Jerry. Charlotte takes Tina under her wing, because she sees herself in her at her age. Charlotte develops a maternal bond with Tina and hopes only for Jerry 's love. Although Charlotte realizes that, he could never leave his wife for another woman. However, to Charlotte, Tina is a piece of him; together they can love her. (Rapper, 1942) “By the 1950 's, the traditional women’s magazine’s role was reestablished: “In psychological terms,” writes Ann Oakly in Housewife, “they enabled the harassed mother, the overburdened housewife to make contact with her ideal self: that self which aspires to be a good wife, a good mother and an efficient home maker….Women’s expected role in society [was] to strive after perfection in all three roles” (Wolf, 2002). The movie Now Voyager portrayed this exact role mentioned above. Charlotte rather spread her wings when she went to Dr. Jacquith the first time. You could tell a big difference in the way she presented herself, but as soon as she returned home under her mother’s care it was like Mrs. Vale was the boss and she expected her to mind her as if she was some sort of dog. That was just the way things were in the 1940s. You minded your parents, did as you were told, and did not talk back. In the movie, Pretty Woman, Vivienne was a prostitute she was selling herself for sex.
This is a bad message to be sending to kids, young adults, or adults in my opinion. This is because women do not see their potential. Vivienne could have everything in the world if only she committed herself to working at whatever she wanted to do. In Canada, prostitution is still considered legal which I do not agree with but here is what the University of British Colombia had to say: “Potential changes to these laws raise questions about Canadians ‘opinions with respect to prostitution and its legal status. Prostitution is technically legal in Canada; however, several laws make it difficult to engage in prostitution without breaking the law” (Morton, Heather Klein, Carolin Gorzalka, Boris B., "Attitudes, Beliefs, and Knowledge of Prostitution and the Law in Canada", 2012, pp. 229-244). Therefore, even though it is technically legal it sounds like they are trying to put an end to prostitution. I know the United States has a big problem with using young girls for sex and even though I know it is illegal people still get away with it
today. So, who was the better female role for young women? Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) or Vivienne Ward (Julia Roberts). I would have to say the better female role is Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) because although her mother saw her as the “ugly duckling,” throughout the movie she gained confidence in herself. She was able to stand up to her mother in a respectful way (which I am sure back then it was not considered respectful), although she never found love or settled down she knew what she wanted, and she was able to take a young girl named Tina under her wing. I have no doubt that if Charlotte were living in this time she would be a very successful woman, a female Donald Trump. She would help those who needed it, she would give guidance to others who are just like her, and she would be a very successful businesswoman. Even though Bette Davis was famous during her time, I think if she were still living, we would see her on every cover.

Works Cited
Morton, H., Klein, C., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2012). Attitudes, Beliefs, and Knowledge of Prostitution and the Law in Canada. Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice, 54(2), 229-244.
Lawton, J. (Writer), & Marshall, G. (Director). (1990). Pretty Woman [Motion Picture].
Rapper, I. (Director). (1942). Now Voyager [Motion Picture].
Wolf, N. (2002). The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.