The Role of Servants and Working-Class Characters in Novels

The Role of Servants and Working-Class Characters in Novels

English Literature

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In many classic English novels, servants and working-class characters play important roles. They may not always be the main focus, but they reveal a lot about society, class, and human nature. In this post, we’ll look at how servants and working-class characters show us the social world of their time and what they can teach us.

The Importance of Servants in English Novels

In many English novels, especially those written in the 18th and 19th centuries, servants and working-class characters are key to the story. Back then, society had clear social classes, with a big gap between the wealthy and the poor. Wealthy people often had servants to help with tasks like cooking, cleaning, and gardening.

Servants usually lived with their employers and worked hard to keep the house running. In novels, they are often shown as loyal, hardworking, and sometimes funny. Though they may not always be the main characters, they play important parts in the story.

Servants in literature can show the difference between the rich and poor. Their actions and attitudes often highlight the social divisions of the time. They also reflect how the rich behave in private, away from the public.

Servants as Loyal Characters

One important trait of many working-class characters, especially servants, is loyalty. Servants in English novels are often shown as being very loyal to their employers, sometimes too much so. In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Bessie, a servant in the Reed family, takes care of Jane, the orphaned girl. Bessie is kind, protective, and caring, even though she is from a lower social class.

In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Mrs. Hill, the Bennet family’s servant, works hard and is loyal to her family. Servants like these are trustworthy and humble, reflecting the values of the time. They may not be rich, but their loyalty makes them an important part of the story.

Servants as Comic Figures

Sometimes, servants in novels are used to provide humor. They may be clever and witty, often making fun of their employers. In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Collins, who works for Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is an awkward, pompous character whose social awkwardness adds humor to the story.

In The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the servants like Lane and Merriman often make sarcastic comments, adding to the humor. Wilde uses these characters to show how out of touch the rich can be with reality. Although servants may not have power in society, they often have sharp insights into the world around them, which is important for many working-class characters.

The Struggles of Working-Class Characters

Beyond being servants, working-class characters often face challenges due to their low social status. They may struggle with poverty, poor education, and tough working conditions. Their stories often focus on how they try to improve their lives.

In Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Oliver, an orphan, is mistreated and forced to work in a workhouse. His story shows the harsh realities of life for the poor in Victorian England. While Oliver is not a servant, his life is shaped by the same social forces that affect servants in other novels.

In North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Margaret Hale moves from the rural South to the industrial North, where she learns about the struggles of factory workers. The novel shows the divide between wealthy mill owners and the working class, highlighting the tough conditions faced by workers in factories.

Working-Class Characters as Social Commentary

Many English novels use working-class characters to comment on society’s problems. Writers like Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Thomas Hardy often highlighted the inequality between rich and poor and called for change.

In Hard Times by Charles Dickens, Stephen Blackpool, a factory worker, is stuck in a life of poverty. Dickens uses his story to criticize how the industrial revolution hurt the poor while the wealthy ignored their struggles.

In Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, Tess is a poor farm girl who faces many misfortunes because of her low social standing. Her story is a tragic example of how the poor were often at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

Through these stories, we see how social class shapes people’s lives and how literature challenges us to think about inequality and change.

The Changing Role of Servants and Working-Class Characters

Over time, the roles of servants and working-class characters in English novels have changed. In older novels, they were often shown as passive characters with little control over their lives. But as society changed, these characters became more complex.

In 20th and 21st-century novels, servants and working-class characters are often shown as having more agency. They may still struggle, but they also make choices and take control of their lives. For example, in the TV series Downton Abbey, the servants are not just background characters; they have their own desires and ambitions.

In modern novels like The Help by Kathryn Stockett, the working-class characters play central roles. Their stories are told from their own perspectives, showing how social class still affects their lives but also how they fight for their rights and create change.

Conclusion

Servants and working-class characters in English novels help us understand the social, economic, and political conditions of their time. These characters show us the differences between the rich and poor and highlight the struggles of the working class. Whether they are loyal, funny, or fighting to improve their lives, they teach us important lessons about humanity and society.

As English literature has changed, so have these characters. Today, they are more complex and active in their stories, allowing us to explore social class and inequality in new ways. By studying these characters, we gain a better understanding of the past and present, and we are reminded of the importance of empathy, equality, and social justice.

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