This is a classic movie involving those who are "in" spurning those who are "out". The "Canaanite woman" in this story is not separated by religion or national origin but by social class and demeanor and in also education.
Reese Witherspoon plays a socially aware sorority girl, Elle, whose only desire in life was to win her college boyfriend back, Warner. He was accepted into Harvard Law School but decided she wasn’t good enough (not serious enough) so doesn’t want her around and breaks up with her. Elle wants nothing but to be his wife. While Elle is president of her sorority, a Hawaiian Tropic girl, Miss June in her campus calendar, and, above all, a natural blonde, she is not considered the intellectual equal of others.
However, she gains admissions to Harvard and finds that the school presents challenges that many feel she is not up to. She is separate by her looks and her naive behavior from the other students. There is even a betting pool to see how long she lasts. Moreover former boyfriend Warner has hooked up with a new girl friend.
The key to this story is from Ephesians 4:11. God gives each of us special gifts, and God expects us to use them. She came to the realization that Warner will never respect her after an incident at a party and became determined to build up her own talents. Elle had gifts she never knew existed until she rose to the challenge of being more than what she was. Elle eventually graduates Harvard with high honors and was been invited into one of Boston’s best law firms.