What Role Does Social Class Play in Pride and Prejudice and Mrs Dalloway - Book Report/Review Example

WHAT ROLE DOES SOCIAL PLAY IN PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND MRS DALLOWAY? due: Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction 3 Elements of Social Classes 3 1. The aspect of levels of rank 5 2. Social restrictions 6 3. Male power 7 4. Marriages that cross class lines 10 Conclusion 12 Bibliography 14 Introduction Social class is described as a situation where two or more ranks of individuals are believed to be in socially lower or upper positions by members of a community (Kleniewski & Thomas 2010, p.215). People of a social class intermarry in their order, but the standards of the community allow marriage down and up the ranks. A class system requires that children are born with equal status as their parents. In addition, a class society gives out obligations and duties, privileges and rights unequally between its superior and inferior groups (Crompton 2008, p.95). This paper will discuss the role of social class in Pride and Prejudice and Mrs. Dalloway. Elements of Social Classes A social class is a big environment where people socialise to embrace specific perception of self and the way they associate with others. Therefore, a person from a low class develops ideas of self that concentrate on the blending, interdependence and social connection. In this case, low-class individuals possess few resources and minimal chances. Consequently, individuals from a high class have immense resources as well as opportunities. As a result, these people develop concepts of self whose focal point is standing out in the midst of others, independence and freedom of choice (Altmaier & Hansen 2011, p.343). The theory of Weber helps to comprehend social stratification. Weber’s theory consists of three dimensions of stratification that include political power, class and status. Weber’s theory argues; for an individual to have the potential to possess power, he or she must be capable of managing different ‘social resources’. The resources include intellectual knowledge, social respect, physical strength, land, and capital. Such a scenario is witnessed in a discussion between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet where she says “…Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England” (Austen 2001, ch.1). A person’s potential to exercise power is in different forms, but all entail the capability to have your way with others despite their power to resist. The hierarchical system of subordination and domination is illustrated through class power, social power and political power. The political power focuses on the way a nation is arranged in modern social systems. If an individual can affect the procedure of creating law, then he or she is considered to hold a powerful position. The class power is about unequal access to physical resources. In this case, an individual with something that others requires, places them in a powerful position. An illustration of this manner of classification is the relationship of employee and employer. In social power, a person is seen as a social superior by another that gives them an authority to implement power over them. The three dimensions of Weber’s stratification theory are illustrated in Mrs. Dalloway book where the crowd gathers at the gates of Buckingham Palace. The majority of the people gathered there were poor people who admired the beauty of the palace (Woolf 2012, p.17). The role of social class in the two books is described in four elements. These elements include; social restrictions, levels of rank, marriages that cross the class line and male power. The sociological stratum of Pride and Prejudice and Mrs. Dalloway is based on the 18th-century economic models of Marxists. The concept Marxist states that a class is a combination of subjective and objective elements. From the perspective of objective, people of a class share a similar connection to a way of production. On the other hand, subjective aspect is concerned with the way people perceive their similarity and ordinary interests. Class consciousness is a set of shared perceptions in regard to how the society is arranged in terms of political, cultural, legal and social structures. Conflict exists between two major classes, that is, the larger proletariat and the bourgeoisie in Marxist structure. This form of conflict is witnessed in Mrs. Dalloway’s book between Doris Kilman and Clarissa. Clarissa despises Doris, whom she sees as a monster with ‘hooves’ taking her daughter from her. Likewise, Doris despises Clarissa, for her bourgeois mannerisms and financial means (Woolf 2012, p.117-133). 1. The aspect of levels of rank A social class rank is displayed through social behaviour accurately and rapidly. The recognition of social class rank is a basic psychological process in the encounter of social class. In addition, perception outlines the manner in which people associate with others and recognise the social world. From ancient times, social class and conduct was in some cases written in law. For instance, some recorded issues include mode of dressing. Individuals of high class dressed elegantly and the sumptuary and aristocracy rules described the jewellery and clothing suitable for an individual’s social station and rank. From the novel Pride and Prejudice, the levels of ranks are seen from the point of view of Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy is of high social rank because of his great wealth and degree of civilisation. He is much aware of it which makes him despise people of Longbourn whom he considers uncivilised and of low class. It is clear that the society acknowledges and accepts social classes. This is evident where Miss Lucas comments that she is not at all offended by Darcy’s pride “does not offend me as so much as pride often does because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I express so it, he has a right to be proud” (Austen 2001, ch. 5). The distinction of Darcy’s class is clear in chapter 6 where Sir William remarks “Certainly, Sir, and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance” (Austen 2001, ch. 6). The aspect of levels of rank is evident throughout Mrs. Dalloway novel. The English people have a defined set of classes that separate everyone in the society. The high society is identified by the cars they drive, their clothes, horses and children. People from the low class admire them because of their eloquent in a way they feel like they are not human. ‘People must notice; people must see…which she admired in a way; but they were “people” because Septimus had said, “I will kill myself” (Woolf 2012, p.14-29). 2. Social restrictions Social restrictions is the limitation of a particular group in a social class rank. In such an event, a restriction is focused on social interactions with people who do not fit into a specific social class. As a result, individuals tend to maintain a distance between them and their inferiors. These restrictions give rise to social mobility. Social mobility is the movement of households, groups of people, families and individuals within the ladder of a social class social stratification. In open stratification, the value is provided to attained status qualities in a society. The motion can either be up or down the social class rank (Browne 2011, p. 398). There are various types of social mobility that include; relative and absolute social mobility. In relative social mobility, there is a variance in the likelihood to achieve a particular result, despite the entire structural changes. On the other hand, absolute social mobility describes the total number of individuals who find themselves in an independent rank of social stratification from their parents. Mobility can be measured quantitively from the perspective of change in wealth or income. In addition, mobility can occur in the same generation or between one and another age group (Browne 2011, p.443). The intergenerational movement is not common for it represents ‘rags to riches’ events of climbing the rank ladder. In the novel Pride and Prejudice, such a case is demonstrated in chapter 5. Sir William Lucas is noted to have engaged in trade in Meryton, where he accumulated massive fortune that made him rise to the honour of knighthood (Austen 2001, ch.5). While, the intergenerational mobility often happens where children are in a better economic situation compared to their parents. For instance, in Pride and Prejudice, two of the Bennet’s daughters married very rich men that changed their status and provided them with more economic resources compared to their parents. The two daughters are Jane and Elizabeth. Social mobility is caused by different types of capital namely; cultural, economic and social capital. Cultural capital is regarded to as the procedure if differentiating between influential cultural assets and elements of the class. The economic capital comprised of financial resources, for instance, physical assets, cash and credit. In the social capital, the resources attained are founded on a group relationship, support from external forces, group membership and networks of governance. Social mobility is evident in Pride and Prejudice where Mr. Bennet’s wealth is given account. His wife’s fortune is acquired from her father’s inheritance worth four thousand pounds (Austen 2001, ch.7). Cultural capital can be looked at as the upper hand quality an individual possesses that places him or her on a high status in a society. These include skills, training as well as any other kind of understanding. People from high social class concentrate on abstract thought and formal reasoning. On the other hand, low-class people care about issues of necessities and reality of life. For instance, in Mrs. Dalloway book, Lucrezia wanted to have a baby after five years of marriage. It shows that she did not care about anything else but have her children who are a reality of a woman’s life (Woolf 2012, p. 64-94). 3. Male power The social dominance theory states that human social classes are arranged in accordance to group-based ranks in a society. The ranks have a three form framework that is founded on age, gender and arbitrary set. The human social ranks are formed by hegemonic classes at the top level and negative reference classes at the low level. In these social class ranks, males dominate the females and have the political ability. In sociology, gender is a fundamental factor that determines human behaviour. Established beliefs explain people’s conduct and make it easy for an individual with different social classes to interact. In some instances, the normative conduct is defined by rigid definitions that results in stereotypes, which compromise the freedom of action. The stereotype is a perception shared by people of a similar social class. In many events, stereotypes consist of negative attributes that are utilised to justify prejudice against some members of a particular social class (Spielberger 2004, p.74). The status of female and males is stereotyped in regard to the features they are presumed to have by virtue of their biological make-up. Negative stereotyping of one gender results in sexism. Males are affected by sexism but not in the same capacity as females. This is because women engage in roles that are related to less pay, prestige and power. In addition, norms about women inferiority because of biological factors are utilised to give reasons for oppressing females. Sexism is reinforced by systems of patriarchy, that is, a male dominated social structure that discriminates females. In patriarchy social structure, the male dominating beliefs control all social institutions that establish the rules that all people follow. As a result of sexism, male privilege is developed in a society. Privilege is the way a society accommodates an individual. In addition, privilege provides advantages that are seen to be normal. It is the aspect of a person being normal, and the rest are different from normal. Male privilege is bestowed on men as a class because of their institutional power to compare to a class of women. Nevertheless, every man encounters privileges distinctively from others because of his position in the social rank. A male child gets male privileges in a society on his virtue of being born a male (Schneider 2005, p.444). There are various theories in sociology that explain gender from different perspectives. The theories include functionalist theorists, symbolic interactionists, feminist theorists and conflict theorists. The functionalist theory suggests that men take important functions in society while women implement the expressive duties that benefit the entire group. The conflict theory, on the other hand, looks at women as victims of oppression because of power inequalities between males and females. The feminist theory argues that women are discriminated because of the past obstructions and traditions that restricted their growth. From the perspective of symbolic interactionists, men possess greater power than women that gives them authority. Masculinity theory view men as individuals who concentrate on material prosperity, tough and assertive. Additionally, masculinity concept regards women as tender, caring and fair (Johnson 2008, p.447). In Pride and Prejudice novel, there is a clear picture of male privileges that is seen in various events. For example, during the ball dance where all women waited for men to choose them as dance partners. This is seen where Sir William remarks “My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner” (Austen 2001, Ch. 6). In addition, from the novel it is evident that males children were more preferred than females in regard to inheritance.it is proven by Mr. Bennet’s statement “about a month ago I received this letter…it is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases” (Austen 2001, ch.13). It signifies the loss of not having a male heir where a close relative has the right to inherit the possessions of a deceased man who only had daughters. 4. Marriages that cross class lines Marriage is a legal sexual union of two individuals which lays the foundation of a family. In sociology, social identities of marriage partners are the fundamental recognition of class feelings. An individual marrying who, without rejection from a social group, is a trial of the boundaries and the perception of what a social group considers acceptable and tolerable. In addition, it is recognition of the extent of membership of a social class. A class structure is brought forth or adjusted by marriage that develops the essence of social class. The essence of the class is defined as the procedure of concurrent closure of marital obstacles between various social classes and the elimination of hindrances between others. Social endogamy is the marriage with the same class and, therefore, presumes the existence of a restricted number of distinct groups. Social homogeny is a marriage of close social status that supposes the being of unceasing status scale (Hill 2013, pg. 71). Social group endogamy is determined by various factors that include structural constraints, individual preferences and third party influences. The personal taste and third party impacts focus on the marriage market. While structural constraints refer to social influence from the community, parents and friends honouring as well as rejecting some social groups. The personal autonomy is concerned with the extent to which an individual can withstand pressure. The possibility of meeting a prospective spouse is viewed as a critical element that describes the reason people get married to persons of the same status. The marriage market is restricted to specified contests, for instance, the neighbourhood where an individual stays. In most cases, these conditions present homogenous social contexts. In such situations, individuals end up marrying people who have same qualities (Bailey & Peoples 2013, p.164). To find a compatible mate, one needs to meet with other people. In contemporary world people meet in sports clubs, church, school, pubic events and modern technologies such as Facebook. In the eighteenth century, schools in Europe trained students the virtues of class mobility. The students were educated on non-conservative ethics that created a passion for non-traditional marriages. The social pressure that originates from community institutions, parents and colleagues play a paramount function in the procedure of marriage. Parents are expected to give consent to their children’s wish to marry. Parents from a high social rank dictated to the children the kind of spouses they will accept in their family more than those from low class (Morgan & Kunkel 2007, p.121). In Pride and Prejudice, the theme of marriage is illustrated throughout the book. Money is precious for a happy marriage, and the families take upon themselves to identify a potential husband who is rich for their daughter. The Bennet’s were ready to receive Mr. Bingley with the hope of marrying one of their daughters to him. They conducted a thorough research about him such that they were aware of his single status. This is evident from Mrs. Bennet’s description of Mr. Bennet “Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” (Austen 2001, ch.1). Although Darcy and Elizabeth did not belong to the same social class, their marriage became possible because of personal preferences. “Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?” “For the liveliness of your mind, I did” (Austen 2001, ch.60). In Mrs. Dalloway, the social class is very rigid. A marriage between people of different classes is unexpected and not common. Through Clarissa, it is clear that people chose to marry for convenience. A woman would consider a social class that a man proposing to be the husband would give her. Even Clarissa acknowledged that she was just concerned about societal rank. All she cared about was the duchesses and dukes. Peter’s remarks confirm the community opinion about low-class females. He thought of Sally Seton, and how she had unexpectedly married a rich man and lived in a big house (Woolf 2012, p. 64-94). Conclusion The role of social class in Mrs. Dalloway and Pride and Prejudice is indicated clearly in the two books. The life of Clarissa demonstrated the role of a woman in that society. It is clear that women valued men from high social rank to be their future husbands. In addition, the book defines the mode of dressing between different social ranks. It explains how the society was defined by physical appearance. In addition, the car and horses owned by the affluent had specific patterns that were associated with their class. The significance of social class is clear in Clarissa’s party. The party was attended by dignified figures that included the Prime Minister, who surprised many because he looked like a common man. Richard is said to act as an English society symbol that put emphasis on class ranks (Woolf 2012, p. 151-165). In Pride and Prejudice novel, the Bennet family highlights the picture of the family and social class. The family consisted of five daughters, and the parents were dedicated to find them suitable suitors for marriage. The parents looked for a man of high rank and massive wealth. The main aim was to guarantee their daughters a solid future so that they can take care of themselves. Balls held in the neighbourhood provided a platform for meeting potential partners. The community interacted socially with each other and learnt about each other’s behaviours. All in all, the society valued male children more than females. Lack of a son meant that the wealth will be inherited by a close relative. From this perspective, one can comprehend the reason the girl’s parents were committed to looking for appropriate wealthy husbands for their children. On the other hand, the male’s families had an interest in the social class of a girl to protect their wealth. Getting married to a girl from a low class meant carrying the burden of the whole family. It was evident in Pride and Prejudice where Elizabeth took care of her sister Lydiah and her husband. This is also an indication of the reasons why people sought a successful marriage to a wealthy man. Elizabeth’s economic status changed, and she could afford to send her sister about three or four hundred a year for upkeep. Bibliography AUSTEN, J. (2001). Pride and Prejudice. Broadview Press. ALTMAIER, E. M., & HANSEN, J. I. C. (EDS.). (2011). The Oxford handbook of counselling psychology. 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