The Issue of Social Struggles in Literary Works - Term Paper Example

?LCT Task 4: Written Analysis The issue of social struggles was an important theme in many literary works done during the 19th century. During this period, the English society was undergoing a social revolution that saw people questioning the idea of having social classes in their midst. Authors such as Charles Dickens and Jane Austen were among those who voiced their opinions about the day’s state of affairs through their acclaimed novels and other literary works. Hard Times by Charles Dickens Hard Times was Charles Dickens’ 10th novel and it was published in 1854. The book focuses on the social and economic pressures that were rampant in England at the time it was written. The story is set in a fictitious industrial town called Coketown, which is based on Preston during the 19th century. One of the main focuses of this novel was utilitarianism which holds that the ultimate objective of every individual is to promote general social welfare. The social struggle depicted in this novel is mostly centered on industrialists and workers. The story revolves around various characters including Thomas Gradgrind who is a wealthy ex-merchant living in Coketown. Gradgrind has devoted his life to rationalism, fact and self-interest, and this philosophy is the one that he uses in bringing up Louisa and Tom, two of his children. Tom grows up to be a sadistic hedonist while his sister Louisa constantly struggles with confusion. She later marries her father’s friend, Josiah Bounderby, a rich banker and industrialist who is thirty years her senior. In the meantime, an impoverished Stephen Blackpool, is in love with a poor factory worker but he cannot marry her as he already ahs a wife who is drunk and not loyal to him. However, he learns from Bounderby that he cannot get a divorce from his horrible wife since it is only the wealthy who are allowed to get divorced. In the end, Bounderby dies alone in Coketown’s streets while Gridgrind abandons his philosophy and decides to devote his political position to help the poor (Dickens, 1854). Persuasion by Jane Austen Persuasion was the last novel completed by Jane Austen in 1816 (Faye, 2003). This is one of the author’s novels that reflects the changes occurring in England’s social order at the time (Faye, 2003). This period was marked by many members of the peerage group losing their high places in society. The book begins with a scenario where the Elliots, an upper class family, is considering moving to a smaller residence. They want to rent out their big mansion to a navy man named Admiral Croft. Baronets such as Anne’s father were finding it difficult to maintain their spendthrift lifestyles. Anne’s family refuses her to get married to Wentworth, who they consider to be poor. However, in the end, Wentworth is able to gain wealth and finally marries Anne (Austen, 1934). How Does Plot Reveal Characters’ Social Struggle? The plot of Hard Times is divided into three sections: sowing, reaping and garnering. Sowing focuses on Mr. Gradgrind and the way that he brings up his children, especially Louisa and Tom. His high-class life philosophy is inculcated in the upbringing of the two and this later is shown to have a serious impact on their lives. Mr. Gradgrind is a strong believer that ample education based on facts and calculations is the only way to live a good life. However, later on in the book, Louisa and Tom do not benefit at all from this philosophy of the wealthy. Tom becomes a hedonist and a thief and Louisa is confused with her life and ends up making the mistake of marrying a man more than twice her age. The second part of the book introduces workers who work at the mills. Stephen Blackpool is one of the poor workers and he is presented as a “man of perfect integrity”. It is through the development of Stephen’s character in the second part of Hard Times that the morality of the nobility is contrasted with the so called morality of the lower class. Through Stephen’s character some of the issues faced by the poor workers such as not being allowed to divorce are brought out. In the third section of the story, the focus shifts to Bounderby, Louisa’s old husband. He has the character of a bossy mill owner who likes boasting and does not care about the plight of those under him (Dickens, 1854). In Persuasion the plot revolves around Sir Walter Elliot, a vain man whose only concern is his rank and good looks. Anne Elliot is his middle daughter but he does not pay as much attention to her as he does to Elizabeth another daughter of his. Mary is the other sister who gets married to an heir to a local squire. Anne falls in love with Wentworth who is considered poor. Lady Russell, a friend of her mother’s, discourages her from pursuing this relationship and this causes Anne and Wentworth to go their separate ways. Sir Walter’s extravagant life forces him to let his family mansion to a naval officer, Admiral Croft who also happens to be Wentworth’s brother in law. In the meantime, Wentworth amasses a fortune while fighting in the Napoleonic wars. Later, Wentworth and Anne reconcile and their relationship is more acceptable to the Elliots since he has become a wealthy man and they have slipped down the social ladder. The plot in this story is laden with themes of social class consciousness. At the beginning the Elliots loose much of their wealth, but they still consider themselves as nobility. They overlook Wentworth a poor man who is in love with Anne. The Elliot children do not have to struggle to make it in life or even be recognized, but Wentworth has to work hard in the war so that he can amass enough wealth. His hard earned money endears him to the high class society members and it is mainly h\what Sir Walter likes about him in the end (Austen, 1934). In both literary works, the family life is used in the development of the themes. In Hard Times, the plot includes a family with two children trained in the way of nobility failing to achieve what they are expected to achieve. In persuasion the child who is despised and given less attention ends up in a better position than the one who had all the attention. In both novels, a lot of changes occur in the characters lives even as they struggle to achieve their goals through hard work or maintain their status in society. How Does Characterization Reveal Characters’ Social Struggle? In Dickens’ Hard Times, the theme of utilitarianism is propagated through many of the main characters. For example, Mr. Bounderby is presented as a bossy merchant who likes boasting about his self-made situation (Dickens, 1854). He is used by the author as a representation of the wealthy who deem themselves morally superior than other people. He is also a character who is intent on climbing the social ladder. He is shown to use Mrs. Sparsit, who is from a high class family, to gain respect from people of lower status. Mr. Gradgrind’s character represents the kind of attitude that the nobility have towards life. They consider themselves more worthy and those who do not have the same opportunities as the nobility as less beings. Most of the characters in Austen’s Persuasion value social rank and consequence. This is clear by the way in which the Elliots, once they have moved to their new smaller house, desperately seek the acquaintance of Lady Dalrymple and her daughter because they seem to be important people (Austen, 1934). The Elliot’s seemingly obsession with the high and mighty is seen as normal behavior by other people such as Lady Russell, who is considered not to be shallow-minded. At the beginning of the novel, the author characterizes Sir Walter Elliot as a man full of vanity. She states that “vanity was the beginning and end of Sir Walter’s character” (p.4). This vanity is epitomized in the way he views his rank as though it gives him the right to treat others whoa re without rank disrespectfully. Sir Walter’s vanity is also evident in the way he gives special treatment to his daughter Elizabeth for the sole reason that she has her mother’s beauty and his pride. To the nobility in England at this time, beauty and pride in a woman were very important. In both literary works, there are characters who find delight in acquiring wealth and nobility. Some of the characters in both books like to use others to their advantage in achieving their goals; to gain wealth or reputation. The characters of those standing high in society are likened both works, the poor and humble emerging finally as victors as they work hard and maintain their integrity. How Does Symbolism Reveal Characters’ Social Struggle? Symbolism in the Hard Times is evident in the use of Gradgrind’s utilitarian life philosophy which was viewed as the right way to live (Dickens, 1854). Gradginds utilitarian lifestyle in this case symbolizes how the rich in society use others to their advantage and at expense of those they use. This utilitarian worldview was used as an excuse to look down on those people who could afford the kind of lifestyle lived by the high and mighty, yet this same utilitarianism could not afford people like Mr. Gradgrind and Mr. Bounderby happiness and contentment. In Persuasion, the symbolism of social struggle lies in the way rank is used to elevate or downgrade one’s ambitions (Austen, 1934). Wentworth was of a lower rank than the Elliots, and for this reason alone, he could not get Anne’s hand in marriage until later when he had made a name and some wealth for himself. In both books, specific characters are used to symbolize people in the society based on their social standing. While utilitarianism is symbolically used as a means of achieving happiness and success in Hard Times, it is used in Persuasion to reveal how people struggle to rise through ranks to achieve success in society, and therefore to gain acceptance. How Do Dickens and Austen Reveal Their Own Social Struggles? Many of Dickens’ novels revolved around the issue of social struggle in the British society. The writer spent much of his adult life campaigning against the social evils that were rampant during his time (Ackroyd, 1991). Through the novel Hard Times, Dickens is presenting the problem that industrialization brought in terms of spreading the notion of class inequality, an issue that he had been fighting all his life (Ackroyd, 1991). Jane Austen’s work is also heavily embedded in the issue of social inequality in England. Although she was born of the gentry, she was never blind to the social issues that occurred around her. In Persuasion, she paints the picture of a gentry’s class represented by Sir Walter who cling to the tradition that depicts people without titles as less important members of society. Conclusion The issue of social struggle was commonly featured in the literature of the Victorian era in England. Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Charles Dickens’ Hard Times are some of the books written during this time that depict the social struggles of the time. Through the books’ plots, characterization and use of symbolism, it is clear to discern he class issues that the writers wanted to bring forth. For instance, Hard Times critically looks at the issue of morality of the high class as compared to the morality of the lower class. Members of the lower class struggle to enjoy the same opportunities as the nobility, yet they have a better moral standing than most of the high class members of society. In Austen’s Persuasion, being without a prestigious title like Wentworth is frowned upon and many people used to loose out on a lot of opportunities because they were not in the right social class. References Ackroyd, P. (1991). Dickens: A Biography. New York. Harpercollins. Austen, J. (1934). Persuasion. New York. Forgotten Books. Dickens, C. (1854). Hard Times. New York. Harper & Brothers. Faye, D. (2003). Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels. Frances Lincoln. . Read More