19th century British class system

19th century British class system

The 19th century was one of the most important eras for Britain. The century is also termed as the Victorian era because Queen Victoria ruled the largest part of the century, which was between 1837-1901. It was a determinant period for the transition of the sovereign state. It was a period that defined how Britain started to engage much with the external world from internal developments. For this reason, a wide range of authors covered the 19th century. Some of the leading writers who covered the period include Jane Austin and Charles Dickens, of whom all were covering the century from different perspectives. For instance, Jane Austin covered the British 19th century from the perspective of romantic scenes among the British nobilities, which was much imminent. It was also something that she could relate to having come from such a class too. Charles Dickens, on the other hand, covered the great realities of the huge percentage of the population at that time. One such writing that he articulated the realities was in the book “Hard Times.” And using the book, Hard Times, I will be examining the 19th century British class system.

The 19th century can be defined by the divisions in classes among the British population and the beginning of economic prosperity in the country. In this era, Britain was looking for both industrial and economic growth. The country was on the rise from high levels of poverty to a better position in the economy courtesy of the growth of industries. The industries emerged due to the industrial revolution and the invention of the steam engine. These were two critical factors that were due to change the life of the British citizens at the time and alter the lifestyles of the people. With the inventions, many of the British were forced to move from agricultural production, which was the main activity in the country into manufacturing. Even though not everyone would move into the industries because of expertise in the field, a lot of people maneuverer through to get opportunities for a job.

With the picking of the industrial revolution, job opportunities came into the cities. The industries were mostly set in the towns due to the quality of infrastructure and ease of access. Thus a lot of people were forced to move from rural areas to cities to earn jobs in the facilities. At that period, towns, mostly London and Birmingham, were overcrowded as the people came over seeking for jobs that would sustain them. That was for both skilled and unskilled workforce. The most prevalent industry at the time was the textile industry. And that was where most of the workers sought jobs before the steam engine allowed for even more industrial developments opening for even more job opportunities. That was unlike in the past when the people were crowded In the textile industries, and the owners used to take advantage of them. They paid the workers poorly to the extent that they would not even be able to achieve a decent living. Some remained as poor working-class citizens.

Charles Dickens in Hard Times depicts some of this poor working class in the examples of Rachael and Stephen. He is a decent man who is in his forties, though because of the quality of life, he already looks older than the forty years that he has. He works in a factory as a laborer, and he is exploited heavily at work. That is why his body condition is not as impressive, and he cannot even be able to afford to live in a good house even after being in Coketown for a very long time. He moved from his home to town for a better life, but he cannot afford it with the work in the factory. That is why he is living in such a poor state. He cannot even afford to rent a house where he can live decently; he lives in a room above a shop. That is in a low standard part of the town where a friend of his lives, Rachael. Rachael is a long term friend to Stephen, they have been working together as laborers for a very long time, and she is now averagely aged at 35 years. Her life at the poverty level is also unbearable at some times, but as she advises Stephan, it is better not to think about it at all. She is also living in a small and dirty house in the region. Despite Rachael and Stephen, they have not yet been able to make the best out of life. They are still in the lower class, only that they are working, but it also does not pay an amount worth their well being.

Cecilia Jupe is another character from “Hard Times” who has a life of the lower class. Her father enrolls her in the Gradgrind’s school so that she can try to escape from the level of life that she is living in. She and his father live in a public house since they do not have a decent place that they can live. In the public house, they have a trunk where they have to shelter even though it is in a very poor condition. They have to stay here together with other people who cannot afford to rent or built a house. The public houses are meant to shelter them before they find a house or as long as they would be working. Sissy and her father have been through a lot of struggles, and taking her to school was the only way the father thought would better her life. But she cannot gel with the other students because they are from a different living standard. Her ideas are a mismatch to those of the other students, and they cannot match to be in the same class. But when Mr. Grandgrind and his friend agree on returning him to her home from the school, they find that her father as already abandoned her, and the trunk in the public house is empty. Of which he does this, not out of an evil will, but wishing the best for her. She does not have any other family, and she opts to go back to Gradgrind’s school instead of remaining with the Sleary performing group.

The new economic opportunities in the 19th century were healthy for the economy of Britain, helping the country in the elevation of life expectancy and quality of life. At least a lot of people were able to get a channel where they would source funds to make a better living. Different from before, where agriculture was not well sustaining, wages were worth maintaining a good life for the people on a regular bases. Even though they were not as high to give them the life they would have wanted, most of the people enjoyed what they were getting. The opportunities, on the other hand, brought in a new phenomenon in Britain, which was of class divide. Before there were no classes in the country, there were the ordinary people and the land gentry who ruled over society. The land gentry were the wealthy landowners, and they gained the properties through inheritance from their families. They were the wealthy landowners, business controllers, and political decision-makers in the society of the time. They were respected people, and there was nothing that would go on in society if they were not consulted. The ordinary people in the society lived a standard life, and they looked upon land gentries to shape the economy of the country. The gentries employed the commoners, and some were even granted a place to stay by the same land gentries. Thus they had to submit to their calls and orders. The land was the bargaining factor that the land gentries used to control the others in society.

With the industrial revolution, though, there emerged a skilled labor force that resulted in a middle class in the society, a class that was not there before. The middle class was made of the new experts in the industrial technology lane and other professionals who had graduated from colleges like the doctors, lawyers, bankers, teachers, and members of the clergy, governess, and other members from the clergy class. From “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens, Mr. Josiah Bounderby fits in this class of the middle class. This class, though, has two distinctions too; there are the lower middle class and the upper-middle class as per the 19th century Britain. The lower middle class is not paid as much, but they have a distinction from the lower class citizens. For the upper-middle class, they have a higher living standard, and they are in a way as good as the aristocrats.

Mr. Bounderby belongs to the upper-middle class; he is a wealthy businessman who trades as a banker, manufacturer and is also a merchant. He is a close friend to Mr. Gradgrind and also his business acquaintance. He has enough wealth to help him employ a lot of characters from the novel. As per the story, it is imminent that different classes do not associate well because he advises his friend that they should remove Sissy from the school and return her home. Bounderby believed that the ideas of a lower class and middle class would not gel well; she would only end up influencing the others to her lane of thoughts. Because of his wealth, he forces the marriage to his friend’s (Gradgrind) daughter, Louisa. The upper-middle class well associated with the aristocrats, so it was not a surprising call for him to make. It is even Mr. Gradgrind’s joy when Louisa accepts to get married to Mr. Bounderby. It was an offer that he was happy for regardless of the considerable age difference. Louisa was a young girl while Mr. Bounderby was as aged as 50 years. But because the classes were compatible, Gradgrind was not bothered by whether there was going to be any love between the two. It was advantageous to him because it was a mark of stamping the friendship.

The Victorian era also had the class of the aristocrats. These were the wealthiest people in society. They were privileged because they could afford an education at such a time when it was rare to meet educated people. The families were capable of buying learning materials, and they also would hire private tutors to learn from homes. They, therefore, had the upper hand as compared to the other classes in the society who could barely afford even a sustainable livelihood. They were the people who owned the riches in society and also gave other people a source of livelihood. The aristocrats in the society occupied limited occupations like Knights, Dukes, Spiritual lords, Kings, Queens, and different leadership positions. In the “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens, Mr. Thomas Gradgrind represents the aristocrats’ class. He is the member of parliament of the region where he is and thus a ruler. He has founded a school, Gradgrind education system, where he has students of different levels. He is well educated and stands as a man of facts and calculations. He values the realistic and educational way of life. He rarely believes in the sentimental idea of life, something that seems to have been carried on by her daughter Louisa. He is supportive of those who are from the lower class of life, as can be seen by his support of Sissy. Even when Bounderby advises him of taking Sissy back home, he is at first hesitant to take the advice.