Social Stratification: Titanic
(selected scenes)
Name: ________________________________Per: _______
FACT:
At 11.40pm on the night of April 14, 1912, en route to New York
and on her maiden voyage, the RMS Titanic struck the iceberg
that would ultimately lead to her sinking less than 3 hours later.
At around 2.20am on the morning of April 15th, RMS Titanic
disappeared beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, a
disaster that resulted in the loss of more than 1,500 lives, almost
two-thirds of the people on board.
Sociological Review
The movie Titanic has been phenomenally successful. By 2000, box
office sales had surpassed $1.8 billion internationally, making it the
most successful motion picture up to that point. While the special
effects depicting the ship’s breakup on an iceberg were spectacular, film audiences were mainly drawn to the story of how aristocratic 17-year-old
Rose, facing a loveless marriage to a society figure, became attracted to working-class Jack. They were not traveling together on that ill-fated
maiden voyage of the Titanic. Rose was ensconced in first-class luxury while Jack was traveling in third-class, or steerage, thanks to a ticket he
won in a poker game.
The story of Rose and Jack was attractive because it was so romantic. After all, it typified a social class fantasy of the rich and the poor falling in
love and then struggling to survive. It is particularly ironic because it uses as a backdrop a real tragedy that reinforces the face that social
inequality outweighs any iceberg.
1.
Describe the differences in the boarding procedures between members of 1st class and members of the other classes.
2.
FACT: A first class ticket cost $4,350, a standard (2nd class) ticket cost $1,750 and a 3rd class ticket cost $30.
Compare the sleeping quarters of those in “steerage” to those in first class. Be sure to include details!
3.
Describe the way Rose envisions her life in the future. Why do you think this upsets her?
4.
Provide 3 examples of how some of Jack’s dinner companions try to make him feel inferior because of his social status:
Name: ________________________________Per: _______
5.
FACT: The first attempt to alert steerage passengers to the need to head to the boat deck came at least 45 minutes after the
other passengers were alerted.
After the Titanic hit the iceberg, how were the classes treated differently in response to the emergency? Give details.
6.
FACT: Titanic only had 20 lifeboats (despite be able to carry 64). Of these, only 16 succeeded in launching. Many lifeboat
spaces went unused. One boat only had 12 and another only 28, despite a capacity of 65.
Why do you think boats weren’t filled to capacity? Did social class play a factor in who was allowed on the boats? Why or
why not?
7.
FACT: Of Titanic’s 1,324 passengers only 37% survived. Approximately 61% of First Class passengers survived; 42% of 2nd
class passengers survived; only 24% of 3rd class passengers survived. Despite a rule of “women and children first,” one-third of
first class males survived. In addition, while only 1 child perished from first class, 49 children perished from 3rd class.
And two dogs survived.
Why did you think so many more first-class passengers survived the ship’s sinking than did lower-class passengers? Be
specific.
2012 marked the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Do you think those in power still react differently in
emergency situations to those in different social classes? (think Katrina, Sandy, etc) Why or why not?
8.
What are “life chances?” (look back in your notes/book if you need a reminder…this does NOT just mean whether you
live/die!) How does social stratification make a difference for the outcome of a person’s life? Explain 3 current examples. BE
SPECIFIC!!
Bonus Points! Read the article “Remembering Katrina” (on my website) and summarize it. Explain how the response to Hurricane
Katrina relates to social stratification and life chances.