Norms

Every society has expectations about how its members should and should not behave. In the movie, no one is allowed to touch the crown prince, however, Louis(Annas child) pushed the crown prince when they get into a fight(where the crown prince insulted Louis for not having a father).

Different countries: Norms are place-specific, and what is considered appropriate in one country may be considered highly inappropriate in another. Anna is in Siam, where it is a form of respect to be asking private and yet personal questions. However, in where the country Anna come from, the UK, it is considered to be quite a disrespect to be asking such question. From the movie, The Adviser asked Anna how long has she been in procession of dead husband When Anna first meet the king, she was adviced to greet the King from forehead to floor. However, she said she would not do so, and that she would greet him with the utmost respect When Anna met the King, the king was having a meeting with the French. However, she dashed forward to meet the King, despite being adviced not to do so, for Anna felt it was disrespectful to her. Anna was addressed as Sire throughout, despite she being a women.

Mores A more (pronounced MORE-ay) is a norm based on morality, or definitions of right and wrong. Since mores have moral significance, people feel strongly about them, and violating a more usually results in disapproval. In the movie, it is alright for the King to have a lot of wives and concubines. Anna felt strongly about the slave not being able to buy their own freedom (by one of the Kings wives), and she bothered the king regarding the matter. According to Anna, she chose to come to Siam because the King promised that in the country, no one is above the law. However, since the slave is able to buy back her own freedom, but the owner refuse to acknowledge it. She felt that being the teacher of the prince, she thought she must teach him to respect their classmate and not to fear the King. Taboos A taboo is a norm that society holds so strongly that violating it results in extreme disgust. The violator is often considered unfit to live in that society. It is a taboo in Siam for Anna to regard herself of being equal to a man. Also, according to Anna, it is taboo for a Louis to smoke since he was too young.