Analysis

Bride and Prejudice is an amalgamation of Hollywood and Bollywood; a screenplay incorporating the best and most attractive features from both worlds. The movie’s main storyline follows the romance between Will, a wealthy American man, and Lalita, the second eldest in an Indian family of four daughters. In pursuit of conditioning the audience to appreciate the Indian culture, there became a strong need to for stereotypical characters in order to convey the ‘clash of the cultures’. Through this storyline several stereotypes are portrayed through different characters; that delve into the characteristics of westernized cultures compared to a solely Indian culture, as well as portraying a few examples of people in instances where they have experienced a different culture themselves and have integrated some practices into their own lives.

William Darcy is the embodiment of a man from a western background; white skin and blue eyes. William Darcy’s stereotypical western character, unaccustomed to the Indian culture, sees their lifestyle as bizarre, as he arrogantly insults India whilst speaking about their best hotel saying “The computer system keeps crashing, the electricity goes, what kind of a business functions here." He is also shown to favour the American way of life over the Indian way of life including food as he said to Balraj “Are you sure this is safe to eat? I don’t want to be getting Delhi belly on my first day.” However throughout the film Will’s mannerisms and view towards the Indian culture progresses from dislike to hesitant through to embrace, as he slowly opens up with the help of Lalita. Lalita Bakshi is the embodiment of a woman born and raised in India. Lalita and the entire Bakshi family, especially Mrs. Bakshi, heavily portray a typical Indian family through their stereotypical mannerisms, practices, philosophy and even clothing. Her mother and father wish for her and her sisters all to marry wealthy Indian men through traditional arranged marriages, as Mrs. Bakshi advertises her daughters to Mr. Kholi and tells them “Don’t say anything too intelligent,” scared to scare him off. Moreover the Indian attitudes, characteristics, gestures and dialogue of the Bakshi family are shown to enhance the reality of the family as well as to add some humour. However at times it can be considered as heavily ethnicity derived humour in which non-Indian audiences may be unable to relate to or understand, consequently resulting in negative reactions towards their characters as well as the negative views on the Indian culture. Mr. Kholi’s character conversely is shown to have incorporated both the American and Indian lifestyles due to being from Los Angeles. His horridly embarrassing attempts of showing off his traits acquired from western cultures, whilst obviously still encompassing Indian habits affixed onto him, becomes the comedic relief within the movie. His character’s attempts at incorporating western culture such as slang “Wassup”, “The bomb”, “I prefer American hiphop” and “Word up” as well as going as far as insulting Indians himself during a conversation at dinner with the Bakshi’s, “India’s too corrupt.” He ultimately creates a character in which a larger percentage of the audience may be able to relate to, become amused by as well as the highly obvious downside of having such an awkward and embarrassing character that arouses negativity towards characters and the Indian culture.

Through these characters and their stereotypes, although at times awkward and unappealing, creates the bridge between two completely different cultures, which encourages appreciation and positive reception for the Indian culture. Overall, despite some culture shock for the audience, the stereotypes portrayed in the film Bride and the Prejudice is an essential element of the movie in order to convey its themes and story.

The views on the cultural stereotypes that are represented in the film Bride and Prejudice that I have perceived is typical. The world is enveloped in various cultures and traditions. This means that there are bound to be stereotypes as time progresses such as how women in India are portrayed as simple and traditional and are apparently shunned to making too intelligible remarks or even stating their own opinion (a major concept in the film). Another cultural stereotype is marriage in both the Western and Indian cultures. As Mr. Darcy stated in the film “I just find the whole arrange marriage thing strange. How can two people marry each other when they don’t even know each other? It’s a little backward don’t you think?” it is clear to see that he is making a cultural judgement on how marriage is carried-out in India. I think that the whole issue of marriage that is presented in the film is a good way to compare and contrast our own culture. But every country has its own unique values and morals to uphold and if one may disagree to an arranged marriage, they can just separate in the future. For me, marriage should be for when two people love each other and that should be the extent of what it is for. Not for money or for power because love will find its way, even when the situation would be deemed highly unlikely (as in the case of Will Darcy and Lalita).
The clash of cultures is evident through the characterisation of Lalita and William Darcy and my view on the cultural stereotype of marriage and the role of women is somewhat confusion and disgust. The confusion is how marriage is such a complicated term in itself, with some using it as a means of gaining income and some to keep an eminent reputation and my disgust refers to how the masses think that women in India (or in any other place in the world) are contemplated as simple and traditional. Women also have feelings and opinions too, but because of the pressure that they are put under, are forced to keep unspoken and let themselves be treated as possessions for a variety of reasons.
The way the U.S/ British culture see the world gives one the benefit of the doubt that their culture may be better than this more ‘superior culture’. Darcy represents this cultural imperialism and discreetly imposes it upon Lalita and I think it is unjust and prejudice. When Darcy was actually given the opportunity to experience the Indian heritage, he may have actually come to enjoy it.
Therefore, I have a number of perspectives on the cultural stereotypes that are illustrated and changes each time I gain an insight into the real world and culture of the Indian people and other places.

Bride and Prejudice by Gurinder Chadha productively portrays the two cultural stereotypes of the Western American and Eastern Indian, within the film.
Through one of the main protagonists within the film, Mr William Darcy, we are enabled to see the cultural stereotypes of the Western world of America. As being ignorant and judgemental, William Darcy portrays himself into being a tolerant man towards Indians and their cultural and stereotypical belief. He distinctively portrays, within his character the stereotype of an American in the Western side of the world, in believing on having more superiority upon majority of the people in India. Besides accepting the beauty and the lifestyles of its country, William Darcy closes every open door shut into accepting India as a wonderful country just because it is a poor country. Believing in his higher status within India he judges and comments on the Indian culture in which Indians see to marrying first and then falling in love. He sees this Indian lifestyle event as being foreign and confusing, he questions it and believes it should be the other way around, not like others who accept their cultural belief, he stands up into believing that this way in which they marry is, in a sense, “strange”. Through the film we are able to see William Darcy’s cultural stereotypical character through his use of speech, in which he questions with superiority, and judges Indian beliefs. In addition, his manner and behaviour of feeling that everything around him is foreign and therefore being uncomfortable, in which makes it hard for him to accept, through his stereotypical character.
Through the Bakshi family, we are able to see the Eastern Indian stereotypical family, in which this cultural stereotype of India is mainly portrayed through the use of the Mrs Bakshi’s character. Having four daughters her main objective in life is to get them married from eldest to the youngest. She strongly defines her character as a very stereotypical mother and woman within India, marrying an Indian man, with wealth as in India the girls get none of the wealth in the house. Therefore Mrs Bakshi mainly wants her daughters to be married off into wealth, become a good wife and have many children. She distinguishes this within the film as she continuously tries to get her daughter Jaya in getting together with Balraj a very wealthy Indian man, and also within the scene in the film where she begins to try with the best of all her abilities to enable Mr. Kholi to get together with her second eldest daughter Lalita. For throughout the film she says that if the eldest doesn’t get married first then the rest would not be able to marry and therefore shame will be upon the family. Mrs. Bakshi resembles and shows towards the audience the stereotypical family and women in India and also shows the lifestyle in which many Indian women are suppose to live.
I believe that these cultural stereotypes represented in the film, clearly identify the clash between these two cultures. It shows how many should accept each other’s beliefs and their style of life, and also respect this, as well. However, throughout the film we are able to see the different cultures being unlike through many ways, as one person from one culture enters and entirely different world to theirs, we see through their stereotypical character, the way they begin to act, in which if they reject or accept the opposite’s beliefs and culture. I believe that this film represents the cultural stereotypes really well, through the use of the characters in which their actions they produce, in tolerating or in trying to begin to accept each other’s differences are very effective. This film brings out the message in which we have no right to distinctively have superior over other countries but to accept and respect each other, as one.

Throughout the Bollywood film of Bride and Prejudice numerous cultural stereotypes are represented through many of the characters. These main characters being that of William Darcy, Mr Kohli and Mrs Bakshi. Each one of these characters represents a significant theme in this film. Since with William Darcy representing the Western world and Mrs Bakshi the representation of the Eastern World. Whilst, Mr Kholi is seen to be the representation of an Eastern raised person who believes that he has assimilated to the Western world, via materialism. In this film, William Darcy is the classic example of a westernised individual unwilling to view the world in any other way than westernised. He approaches India with a closed mind, believing people of the western world would only want to venture to this country and not have to deal with or experience the true India. His character establishes that the westernised society believe they are of an arrogant and superior status, without the slightest interest in learning and developing knowledge on any other culture. The second main cultural stereotype established is that of Mr Kholi, having believed he has assimilated to the western culture. Mr Kholi’s character has been developed to express to the audience that you as an individual may be believe that you have assimilated to another culture although truly not realising you have not. Filled with contradiction this character is seen to have left the country he was born in, in search for bigger and better things in the westernised world. Without realising Mr Kholi has indeed returned to find a suitable wife whom he can take home with him to America, to cook, clean and take care of him in the traditional Indian manner. Having to believe he has assimilated yet retracing his heritage and following the traditional Indian culture. Seen in the character of Mrs Bakshi who is of a traditional Indian family, who’s main goal at the present time in the film is to have her daughters married off to a man of wealth. This character represents the true Indian identity and what life as an Indian woman is like. Concluding, each of these characters brings a different aspect of their culture either western or eastern, which ultimately develops the film.

Bride and Prejudice is a film FULL of cultural stereotypes, both Indian and American. They all raise awareness of different issues and opinions in both cultures. Darcy is your “typical American”, quotes like “Jesus Balraj, where the hell have you brought me” and “are you sure this is safe to eat, I don’t want to be getting Delhi Belly on my first day” portray him as rude, judgmental and disrespectful and it is no wonder Lalita does not like him. Lalita is your “typical” Indian girl, she is portrayed as somewhat traditional, with a strong love of family and India, but she is very smart. Mrs. Bakshi tells Lalita “Don’t talk unnecessarily and don’t say anything too intelligent”. This reflects the role of women in India and how basically the men are supposed to be the smart ones who go out to work and earn all the money while the women are supposed to stay at home, look after the children and make gobi. The two protagonists in Bride and Prejudice are obviously very different from the start, but Mr. Kholi is a character who is right in the middle of the two, a perfect example of the Indian trying to be an American, this stereotype results in a hilariously funny character. He is a distant relative of Lalita’s family who now lives in America or “Am-ri-ca” as he pronounces it. He thinks he is westernised because he lives like an American but he is far from assimilated. He associates being American with materialism. Because he has a big house and the lifestyle western people has he thinks he is now American, but on the other hand he stlill does lits of things like Indians and still has the same principles of life as Indians do. When talking about why he decided to come back to India to find a wife, he talks of the Indian girls in America “You know, in U.S., they're all too outspoken and career-oriented. And some, have even turned into...The Lesbian.” This quote oozes non-assimilation. Someone who thinks they have taken on a western way of life couldn’t have with these backward ideas of what women should be.
In conclusion, Bride and Prejudice is a good example of the Indian and American cultures coming together in all different ways. The cultural stereotypes shown bring awareness to us that we’re all different so sometimes we just need to be a little understanding of cultural ignorance.

In the film Bride and Prejudice, directed by Gurinder Chadha, there are many cultural stereotypes being present throughout. These stereotypes come through different characters and all represent different aspects of the two dominant cultures, Indian and American, in the film. Through Mrs Bakshi, we see the stereotypes of how she was trying to marry off her daughters and how she was arranging all their marriages for them. Her objective in life was to make sure that her daughters had a man who would be able to support them and would be able to look after her and make money to support the family. In Indian culture, the woman is merely a possession. She is stereotypically seen as someone who requires support from the man and if she does not get married, then she is seen as a burden to the family. She is there to serve her husband and to wait on him hand and foot and we see this in the song 'No Life Without Wife' when Lalita is serving Mr Kholi who is the suitor that her mother is trying to get her to marry. She is also not to speak out of turn and 'not say anything too intelligent'. I personally do not agree with this as I do not believe that women should be treated like this and I agree with what Lalita does when she talks about what the Americans were doing after their independence in response to Kholi's remarks about how India is not as developed. Mr Darcy also presents a very distinct cultural stereotype in this film. Darcy is from the US and has come to India with his friend Balraj who is from the UK. He feels like an alien in this country and this is especially clear when the first lines that we hear come out of Darcy's mouth are 'Jesus Balraj, where have you brought me?'. He sees himself as different and an alien in this new country and brings with him the prejudice of the western world. He stereotypically believes that the western world is far more superior and is more advanced than the rest of the world. He sees himself as better and his country as more developed than the rest of the world. He has come to India to see if he can buy a hotel in order to make more money. Darcy is trying to change India into becoming like what he believes is superior, the western world. He also does not agree with the idea of an arranged marriage, a stereotype of the western world. This is seen when he says 'It's a little backward, don't you think?' and through this line we see the stereotype the director is trying to convey to us as the audience that the western world sees the idea of love after marriage as ridiculous. However, Chadha also shows the hypocritical side of the western world, which is also a common stereotype. We see the hypocrisy in Darcy when it comes out that his mother was in fact trying to arrange his own marriage to a rich New York girl in order for the riches to stay with the rich. I think that presenting Mr Darcy in this way is quite effective because it makes the audience, who is usually from the western world stop and look at their own lives. Also, presenting Mr Darcy this way also makes for a very interesting story as we see a romance between Lalita and himself unfold that is not easy because of all these stereotypes and arguments unfolding. I think that it's fair to say that the stereotypes presented in Bride and Prejudice are quite realistic and the way that the two protagonists overcome these stereotypes just makes for a more interesting film for the audience to watch.

There are many different stereotypes that come out of the film bride and prejudice, and this allows the responder to see different aspects, traditions, and customs that tie into certain cultures. In my view, the cultural differences allow us to reflect on the growth and development of the eastern world countries, and the apparent materialism and arrogance of the western world. In the film different characters seem to represent different stereotypes. For example, there is Lalita, the standard India daughter, diligently working for her family and waiting for her parents to find her a husband, knowing this is her custom, and accepting this, as well as everything that comes with her culture and lifestyle as an India woman. However she also breaks the stereotype as we see she is not pushing past the idea of finding a perfect husband, but respects that traditionally, marriage comes before love. She is intelligent, opinionated and she is somewhat outspoken, and in this way she defies the stereotype, symbolizing that India, as a country, is moving forward. Mr Darcy on the other hand seems to encompasses everything society believes is so closely related to the western world. Arrogance, ignorance and materialism. This western surface is what creates great conflict and tension between Lalita and Darcy. However we also see that Darcy is able to overcome the stereotype when he gets over the initial shock of being in a foreign world, and seeing people doing things he may not agree with or be accustomed to, and begins to assimilate because he knows it is what will get him Lalita. And i think that this realisations proves that all these stereotypes are just means of covering up the fact that people find it hard to step out of their own worlds, out of their comfort zones, and into something completely different, and that they would rather discriminate from a distance and not allow for a wider, more diverse society. However, from the changes that these 'stereotypical' characters make througought the movie, is shows that cultural differences should be respected, but not something that that separates us.

The film, ‘Bride and Prejudice,’ highlights and represents many cultural stereotypes that exist in the Western and Eastern worlds.
The director, Gurinda Chadha indicates through Mr and Mrs Bakshi the significance of the traditional arranged marriages and Indian girls getting married so “they’ll have a comfortable and better life” as expressed by Mrs. Bakshi in the line, “if you don’t get the eldest daughter married, the rest of you will not get married and that would be a shame.” When Mr Kholi arrives at the Bakshi household looking for a wife he states, “I’m spoiled with choice in this house,” objectifies women as a valuable gift and identifies the roles of women from an Indian perspective. Mr Kholi believes he has assimilated to the grand and luxurious Western culture and absentmindedly criticises that, “India is not developed” which contradicts his Eastern culture actions of eating with his fingers when there was cutlery available. In this scene, the director puts forth the message of not having to lose your identity if you assimilate to another country.
From the introductory scenes of the film, we already meet and witness the arrogant and critical protagonist, Darcy. He acts as if he’s innocuous however oblivious that he is actually being very disrespectful and judgmental when he states, “I find this arranged marriage thing a little bit strange, how can two people get married and not know each other, it’s a little backward don’t you think?” This demonstrates his oriental Western culture of superior status and his perspective towards his culture and others. It especially outlines the hypocrisy and similarities between two very different cultures in the film because Darcy is also getting an arranged marriage enforced by his mother.
I believe that whatever the circumstance, we should not be too quick to judge or criticise people with different cultures and backgrounds. However we should put aside our arrogance and cultural differences, ignoring the cultural stereotypes that exist in order to accept and understand each other and live in unity which is symbolised in the film by the marriage of Lalita and Darcy in the end.

The film, Bride and Prejudice embraces on cultural stereotypes of two of the most recognised cultures today, Indian and American. Gurinder Chandha has approached this film with the aim to link the two extremely different cultures, and recognising the impact and harsh reality of prejudice and pre-judgement in our modern society.

William Darcy is “arrogant, rude and irritable” man, who represents the stereotypical rich American man who is ignorant and never ceases to embrace other cultures. He demonstrates his egotism in the first thirty seconds of the movie, stating, “We’re in Hicksville, India” His overconfidence is shown through his pre-judgement of the state of India. India, unlike America is a third world country and suffers from poverty and experiences third-world development. Mr. Darcy, although fully aware through media, looks condescendingly upon it. Mr. Darcy’s conceited personality is also shown in the wedding scene, where he noticeable looks uncomfortable in the traditional Indian dressing and setting. Most people would have taken advantage of this and experienced India in its raw reality, without the authenticity being cloaked by the mass media. I believe that the stretch of the stereotype of an American helps spread the message of how our high living standards has caused us to make pre-judgments without experiencing it first.

Although Lalita is the protagonist character and is the main one, she does not demonstrate an Indian stereotype as she represents a character who is stepping out of the stereotype. In my preference, I believe that Mrs. Bakshi represents the traditional Indian stereotype, in a comical sense. Mrs. Bakshi demonstrates the life of an Indian woman after marriage, whose life aim is to marry her four daughters. We see in the movie, from the first 5 minutes to the end, the constant reminder of arranged marriage demonstrates to us how important it is in Indian tradition to provide a man to their daughter and produce offspring. Gurinder Chandha has expressed the stereotype of Indian culturalism through the high pitched voice and broken English. You see in the movie, how she constantly is dressed in Indian clothing, and has never lost her roots. I believe, just like Mr. Darcy in the American stereotype, although it has been stretched widely, it helps achieve the aim of the director and present an message.

In conclusion, my views on the cultural stereotypes are that they are slightly stretched and abstract then in modernity, but they do achieve the role of creating the link between Indians and Americans through the theme of marriage, whether arranged marriage or love.

The film Bride and Prejudice shows cultural stereotypes that are created from ignorance and misunderstandings to the opposite culture yet seem to be ironically similar to their own. Chadha’s use of high and low angles shows Darcy’s discomfort in a foreign society. Mr Darcy, who represents the western culture, continuously judges the Indian society and considers it to be of a lower standard in comparison to his own. During the after party of the wedding, Darcy criticises the Indian culture when he questions Lalita saying “I find this hole arranged marriage thing a little strange. How can two people get married and not even know each other?” showing his cultural viewpoint, however in Gao we find out that Darcy’s mother is arranging his own marriage. This shows only one way in which Darcy’s culture is ironically similar to Lalita’s.
We also see a cultural stereotype shown through the character of Mr Kholi who represents a migrated Indian. Kholi has a perception of India that is much like Darcy’s. We can see this when he speaks his mind of India compared to America stating that “India is too corrupt”. Ironically, Kholi says this while eating with his hands; a very traditional and peasant-like Indian practise. Kholi also adopts a cultural stereotype of Americans, linking the American lifestyle with money and materialistic belongings, suggesting that this is his idea of being assimilated to their culture. Through these examples, we can see that the cultural stereotypes represented in this film show one’s ability to judge what is unknown to them and think superior of it.