S.E.A.L. 1
Morals, Ethics & Values Unit
Film: The Emperor’s Club (2002)
Please answer the following questions in their entirety.
1) “The Emperor’s Club, a work of fiction based on the 1994 short story,
“The Palace Thief,” by Ethan Canin, is not your typical teacher-schoolstudent film, because the hero, is, at best, flawed. The audience wants
him to be perfect, but he is not. At what point does he make the first
flawed decision? And why?
2) Sedgewick Bell is so consistently obnoxious that it’s difficult to sympathize
with him. Yet, what if we look at the film from Bell’s point of view and put
a fairy tale spin on it? He has an evil father, is offered an opportunity for
salvation by a fairy godfather, rejects it and is left with the questionable
ethics his father taught him to guide him through life? At what point does
a person control or take responsibility for their own character and
choices? Explain your answer.
3) One of the more potent statements in the film has Mr. Hundert saying
that, “Privilege demands integrity?” Do you agree with this statement?
Why or why not?
4) Should a social service person (I.e.: teacher, parent, etc.) ever bend the
rules to gain some ones trust? Why or why not?
5) Screenwriter Neil Tolkin parallels this film with present day America as
follows: “Most of us knew a Sedgewick Bell, that someone who would do
anything to beat the system, take the easy road, as long as it was
successful. What is alarming about this story, and yet somehow not
surprising, is that the Bells of the world do beat the system, do get
elected to high offices, and on occasion become great leaders. Bell
triumphs in the end, and he cares very little for how he won or will
continue to win. Just that he wins. How his lack of character is
destructive to those he touches, including his son, is, ultimately less
important to him than winning.” Do you agree with this assessment of
the movie? Why or why not? If you do agree with Mr. Tolkin’s
assessment, what does it say about America’s morals, ethics and values?
6) Is a teacher’s job to mold the character of his/ her students? Explain your
answer.
7) “It is not living, but living rightly that counts.” Socrates – Do you agree
with this quote? Why or why not?
8) Have you ever in your life had an episode/ opportunity (Didn’t get chosen
for something and then had to watch others participate.) like Martin
Blythe’s? If so, what was your initial reaction? How did you feel when
you watched someone else participating in the episode/ opportunity?
9) Explain you thoughts about the ending of this movie. Were you pleased
with it? If so, why? If not, what do you think should have happened and
why?
10)Why do you think that I decided to show this film to conclude our unit on
morals, ethics and values?
Sedgewick Bell’s character is his fate and William Hundert’s fate is his
character.