The Crown, “Paterfamilias”
Season 2 Episode 9
Students will view this episode as an anchor in their Virtue Portfolio.
Essential questions are: How does one’s family system impact their ability to live fully
human? What are the pushes/pulls in making choices which might challenge how a person
was socialized? What makes our choices truly our own, as opposed to mirroring others’
needs/pressures around us?
1.
What does Philip need upon arriving at Gordonstoun? What does Charles need there?
Philip needs support, and to learn to give up his ego and ask for help. Charles needs support as well
as to learn independence.
2.
Elizabeth is the Queen of England. Lots of power, right? Yes and no…explain.
Yes in the sense that she does have a lot of executive power. No in the sense that in her own home,
Philip seems to be making the decisions.
3.
What does Elizabeth risk if she continues to push Philip by defying his wishes for Charles’ schooling?
Philip threatens to leave her, and so she risks her marriage all together. As a product of this, she also
risks Charles having no immediate male role model, even as harsh as Philip can be.
4.
Contrast the relationships Charles has with the men in his life: his father Philip, uncle Dickie,
bodyguard…consider, also, the gender identity of each of these men, and how each portrays “what it means to be
a man” differently.
For Philip, being a man seems to be about independence, perseverance, and strength. With Uncle
Dickie, being a man is more about empathy, honesty and compassion (and for the bodyguard as well)
5.
What is the source of the estrangement between Philip and Charles?
Specifically, Charles didn’t want to go to school at Gordonstoun, yet Philip still made him. More
broadly, Philip has strict, high expectations for Charles. He wants him to be unwaveringly strong
when that’s not Charles.
6.
What is ironic about Philip flying Charles to school? What does that reveal about his character?
A big part of Gordonstoun is leaving ego behind and learning collaboration. By Philip flying Charles
to school, he differentiates Charles from the start, creating animosity between him and the rest of
the boys.
Flying was how Philip's sister died. This might show that Philip is still distraught by his sister's death,
or perhaps that he’s repressing his emotions over it.
7.
At one point, Elizabeth says, “scarred children make for destroyed
adults.” How is that true for both father and son?
Philip was neglected and troubled as a youth, and he
continues to carry his insecurities into adulthood. He
then projects these insecurities onto Charles, and greatly strains their relationship.
8.
“Men aren’t monsters, but masculinity might be.” Explain that quote in relation to this episode. How is patriarchy
systemic, rather than an individual choice? How, exactly, would you define patriarchy?
Philip isn’t intrinsically a bad person, yet the stereotypes about masculinity he learned as a child
lead him to not only be too harsh with Charles, but continue to repress his own emotions. On a
bigger scale, a patriarchy is a society / government where men hold the power. Within a family, a
patriarchy is a family where men are expected to be the leaders, and are pressured to be strong and
disciplined.
9.
One of the features of this episode is how the individual v. the system is highlighted. Where do you see this
dynamic illustrated?
- Philip first attempting to fix the gate all alone, then finally asking for help
- The final challenge where Charles is left behind