The high class-consciousness of Victorian England is very prominent in Hardy's short story, so that the aim of this paper is to show that "For Conscience' Sake" breaks with the conventions of the Victorian literary marketplace in order to depict the consequences of a relationship or marriage between people from different classes induced by a very class-conscious society, and that these consequences not only affect the female part of the couple.
In order to prove this thesis statement, I will firstly show the class differences between the different characters, analyse difficulties that emerge with the relationship between the characters induced by their class difference, and finally conclude with the statements that the text offers about class and culture of the late 19th century.
For the utilitarians of the 19th century "only will power and a degree of talent were needed to achieve economic and social success", so that people became increasingly class-conscious and attempted to rise in terms of their social class. The rise of the working and middle classes led to growing fear of the upper classes and with the right to vote for educated middle-class members, the upper classes had to rule the country together with them.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theory and Method
2.1 Literary Approach and Analytical Categories
2.2 Definitions
2.2.1 Class
2.2.2 Lower-, Middle-, and Upper Classes
3. Analysis and Interpretation
3.1 Remorse and its Consequences
3.2 The Clash of Classes
4. Conclusion
5. Sources Cited
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how Thomas Hardy’s short story “For Conscience’ Sake” challenges Victorian literary conventions to critique the rigid class structure of the 19th century and its destructive impact on interpersonal relationships and social identity.
- The influence of Victorian class-consciousness on personal life choices.
- The clash between social upward mobility and individual authenticity.
- Hardy's subversion of the "happy ending" as a form of social criticism.
- The gender-specific consequences of societal norms on marriage.
- Analysis of character status within the lower, middle, and upper classes.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 The Clash of Classes
In the short story, there is two times a clash of classes: The first takes place 20 years ago, when Mr Millborne and Leonora have got a child, and the second takes place when Mr Millborne and Leonora finally marry each other. In order to illustrate the differences in class between them, both figures will firstly be characterised in terms of their social status:
Mr Millborne is the son of a solicitor, and had been a banker with much responsibility till his father died and bequeathed him with sufficient money to live as a bachelor (cf. 2-6). At the beginning of the story, he lives in London, very near to Bond Street, where he often visits a club on foot or by cab (cf. 2). Bond Street is one of London’s most expensive streets today, which gives a hint to the actual amount of the character’s wealth, although the narrator says that Mr Millborne is “a man of some means, though apparently not wealthy” (ibid.). The important word in this quote is “apparently” because it shows that the characters in the story are actually uncertain about his wealth.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's aim to analyze how "For Conscience' Sake" departs from Victorian literary norms to depict the consequences of class-influenced relationships.
2. Theory and Method: This section defines the analytical framework, including definitions of class, the Victorian social hierarchy, and the contextual approach used to examine Hardy’s representation of class.
3. Analysis and Interpretation: This main section explores the narrative arc, focusing on Mr. Millborne’s remorse, the failed marriage, and the inherent difficulties characters face due to their differing social statuses.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes how Hardy's defiance of conventional "happy endings" serves as a poignant critique of the oppressive Victorian class system.
5. Sources Cited: This section lists the academic primary and secondary literature used to support the analysis.
Keywords
Thomas Hardy, For Conscience' Sake, Victorian Era, Class System, Class-consciousness, Social Mobility, Marriage, Gender Roles, Literary Marketplace, Victorian Conventions, Socio-economic status, Illegitimacy, Social Critique, 19th-century Britain, Narrative Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on Thomas Hardy’s short story "For Conscience’ Sake" and investigates how it depicts the rigid Victorian class system and the resulting negative consequences for individuals involved in cross-class relationships.
Which central themes are discussed?
The core themes include the impact of deep-seated class-consciousness, the limitations placed on social mobility, the pressures of moral and cultural conventions, and the sacrifice of personal happiness for social standing.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to prove that Hardy intentionally breaks with the conventions of the Victorian literary marketplace to demonstrate that marriage between different classes is often fateful rather than a "fairy tale" success.
Which methodology is applied to the text?
The author uses a contextual and textual approach, comparing Victorian historical and social realities with Hardy’s literary representation, including character analysis based on occupation, housing, and social status.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the plot summary of the short story, a characterization based on social status, an interpretation of "The Clash of Classes," and an analysis of the marriage between Mr. Millborne and Leonora.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Victorian Class-consciousness, Social Mobility, Hardy, Victorian conventions, and Socio-economic status.
How does the author characterize the outcome for Mr. Millborne?
Mr. Millborne is presented as a "co-victim" of the artificial class system; his attempt to rectify a past moral failure through marriage results in isolation and unhappiness, serving as a consequence of his own societal conditioning.
What role does Leonora play in the context of Victorian social expectations?
Leonora represents the complexity of a woman striving for respectability through hard work; her initial success outside the upper class is eventually dismantled by the marriage, illustrating the conflict between her agency and societal expectations.
- Quote paper
- Isabel Kern (Author), 2017, The Representation of Class in Thomas Hardy's "For Conscience' Sake", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/488979
