Swan lake and intertextuality
Intertextuality is a literary technique whereby a text is referenced within another text. This is often done deliberately to illustrate a point, the text being included often pointing to or solidifying a theme within the larger text. In this sense, the references to the ballet Swan Lake in the film Billy Elliot is an example of intertextuality.
Plot
Swan Lake is the story of Prince Sigfried who is told that he is expected to choose a bride. Upset that he is unable to marry for love, Sigfried runs into the woods and finds a lake full of swans. One is more woman than swan and he discovers that she is in fact Princess Odette who, like the other swan maidens, has been turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer Von Rathbart. The lake that they swim in was formed by the tears of the girls' parents and Odette is trapped in swan form until night time when she becomes a woman again. The Prince becomes enamoured with Odette and returns to the castle. Von Rathbart also arrives at the castle with his own daughter, Odile, who he has cast a spell on to look identical to Odette. She and the Prince dance and he declares his love for her. Odette, seeing this through the castle window, becomes distraught and returns to the forest. The Prince, seeing Odette at the window and realising his mistake, follows her and apologises. She accepts and they embrace until Von Rathbart intercedes and attempts to separate them. Realising that the Prince's declaration to Odile has made it impossible to break the spell, they jump into the lake and drown. This renders Von Rathbart powerless and he also dies.
Swan Lake and Billy Elliot
Swan Lake is referenced numerous times in Billy Elliot and is used to parallel the storyline in many ways. Swan Lake is the most famous ballet in the world and as such is fitting as Billy is attempting to move into this world.
Swan Lake is first referenced in the scene when Mrs Wilkinson and Billy are travelling in the box car. Mrs Wilkinson recounts the story of Swan Lake and her description of it detail traditional gender roles within a fairytale context- that is the handsome prince attempts to rescue the trapped female from the clutches of evil. Billy's reaction to this is one of disbelief, stating questioningly 'she killed herself because the Prince didnt love her?' Immediately it is obvious that these traditional gender roles are not accepted by Billy. The music from Swan Lake plays over this scene, its powerful orchestral sound juxtaposed by the industrial feel of the box car.
Mrs Wilkinson states that this is 'just a ghost story' and this scene is followed by Billy's vision of his dead mother. She, like Princess Odette, has died prematurely.
The Prince finds himself in the forest when he becomes upset that he is being forced to marry out of obligation and tradition rather than love. Not unlike the Prince, Billy is also being forced to follow a predetermined path, rather than follow his passion, which is for dance. Both the Prince and Billy act in defiance of this obligation and follow their heart. While the Prince meets a tragic end by leaping into the lake with Odette, Billy's 'leap' of faith allows him to move beyond Durham 'into the world' of his passion, Ballet.
Von Rathbart is a literal evil in the ballet, representing the obstacle that hinders both Odette and the Prince. In the wider context of Billy Elliot this could be read as any force which attempts to impede Billy's movement 'into the world'.
Plot
Swan Lake is the story of Prince Sigfried who is told that he is expected to choose a bride. Upset that he is unable to marry for love, Sigfried runs into the woods and finds a lake full of swans. One is more woman than swan and he discovers that she is in fact Princess Odette who, like the other swan maidens, has been turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer Von Rathbart. The lake that they swim in was formed by the tears of the girls' parents and Odette is trapped in swan form until night time when she becomes a woman again. The Prince becomes enamoured with Odette and returns to the castle. Von Rathbart also arrives at the castle with his own daughter, Odile, who he has cast a spell on to look identical to Odette. She and the Prince dance and he declares his love for her. Odette, seeing this through the castle window, becomes distraught and returns to the forest. The Prince, seeing Odette at the window and realising his mistake, follows her and apologises. She accepts and they embrace until Von Rathbart intercedes and attempts to separate them. Realising that the Prince's declaration to Odile has made it impossible to break the spell, they jump into the lake and drown. This renders Von Rathbart powerless and he also dies.
Swan Lake and Billy Elliot
Swan Lake is referenced numerous times in Billy Elliot and is used to parallel the storyline in many ways. Swan Lake is the most famous ballet in the world and as such is fitting as Billy is attempting to move into this world.
Swan Lake is first referenced in the scene when Mrs Wilkinson and Billy are travelling in the box car. Mrs Wilkinson recounts the story of Swan Lake and her description of it detail traditional gender roles within a fairytale context- that is the handsome prince attempts to rescue the trapped female from the clutches of evil. Billy's reaction to this is one of disbelief, stating questioningly 'she killed herself because the Prince didnt love her?' Immediately it is obvious that these traditional gender roles are not accepted by Billy. The music from Swan Lake plays over this scene, its powerful orchestral sound juxtaposed by the industrial feel of the box car.
Mrs Wilkinson states that this is 'just a ghost story' and this scene is followed by Billy's vision of his dead mother. She, like Princess Odette, has died prematurely.
The Prince finds himself in the forest when he becomes upset that he is being forced to marry out of obligation and tradition rather than love. Not unlike the Prince, Billy is also being forced to follow a predetermined path, rather than follow his passion, which is for dance. Both the Prince and Billy act in defiance of this obligation and follow their heart. While the Prince meets a tragic end by leaping into the lake with Odette, Billy's 'leap' of faith allows him to move beyond Durham 'into the world' of his passion, Ballet.
Von Rathbart is a literal evil in the ballet, representing the obstacle that hinders both Odette and the Prince. In the wider context of Billy Elliot this could be read as any force which attempts to impede Billy's movement 'into the world'.