An Education and Alfie.

How is Jenny a typical British teenager?

Jenny is a typical teenager for several reasons. First, she is rebellious against her parents and her teachers which is something most teenagers find themselves doing. An example of this is when she has an argument with her Dad, or when she tells her parents she is going to Oxford to visit the University but she is actually going out with David. She also smokes and drinks alcohol underage which is something common by teenagers. Jenny plays an instrument and is into music which is typical of teenagers (even though she is into classical music). Jenny is a typical teenager because of the position she is in as she is pressured by her family to pursue her education and go to university. Jenny has ambitions of travelling to France which normal as most teenagers want to travel the world. Jenny is also very much into boys and older men which is expected for teenage girls. She tries to act older in the presence of adults which is something most teenagers do to come across as mature. Jenny also skips her P.E. lesson to go and smoke with her friends.

Jenny also shows she not a typical British teenager as she wants to escape education and marry David and have a child with him. Most teenagers nowadays want to stay in education and go on to study at university. She is also not a typical teenager in that she likes reading books in her spare time, whereas the majority of teenagers do not.

Draw similarities and comparisons with the representation of Britain that we see here and in Alfie

One similarity between An Education and Alfie is the traditional role of genders. Men are expected to work and pay for expenses, while the women are expected to work at home, look after the family and provide meals. Another similarity between An Education and Alfie is dominant role of the males. In An Education, David has almost complete control of what Jenny does and the decisions she makes. In Alfie, he bosses females around to do things for him, such as ironing his shirts.

One comparison is that in Alfie, the British are represented as working class, with cockney accents. For example, Alfie is a handy man that just does work where he can. In An Education, however, they are very well spoken and represent the middle class. For example, there are luxury cars and restaurants. Another comparison is that in An Education, the family are represented as an important part of life. However, in Alfie, he is very much independent and lives for himself rather than for others.