Entry 4 - Sense Of Community

This is one of the family tree's explaining the relations between the communities within Eastenders. Although difficult to understand, the main characters are shown and how they are linked to eachother. Community is a very important aspect within a soap opera as all the characters either conflict, ally or trade secrets about each other causing dilemma's and relationships to be built. This way the different families work together simultaneously in creating the effect that 'everybody knows everybodies business' which is needed within a soap opera in order to increase tension.


The first main family was the Beale and Fowler clan, the main characters being, her husband Arthur, and teenage children Mark and Michelle. Living nearby was Pauline's twin brother Pete Beale, his wife Kathy and their son Ian. Pauline and Pete's mother was the domineering Lou, who resided with Pauline and her family. This family is an example of how live together in the community of Albert Square. These relationships between these family members are twisted, sustained or broken and reconciled throughout the programme, causing the structure of Eastenders as most of its plots are created from the drama within the families. These plots also upset other families causing rivalry between them, depending on the issue.