‘Mansfied Park’ – The theme of Social Class and a Marxist view.

During the time this novel was written the wars and other international troubles and the hardship at home did not impinge a great deal upon the everyday lives of country gentlemen and their families, although the wages fell drastically for agricultural workers. Fortunes were made and lost and there might have been less dramatic financial tightness for some, for example like those experienced by Sir Thomas Bertram, who seemed to find himself more dependent than usual on his income from Antigua.

Throughout the novel there is a principle theme of class. This is noticed from the very beginning, where the three Ward sisters marry three into three different social classes: Maria Ward who marries Sir Thomas Bertram the baronet, and then represents the upper class. Mrs Norris who marries the secretary of the Anglican Church, which then makes her middle class. Then finally, Mrs Price who marries a sailor who then becomes drunkard and out of work which then makes her of working class which therefore makes Miss Fanny Price working class too which is why in Mansfield Park she is treated differently than the Bertram’s, Crawfords and Mrs Norris.

As Jane Austen used a omniscient narrator, which is a narrator who is able to describe the thoughts as well as the actions of each individual character, we learn what each character feels about the themes throughout the novel for example, with the theme ‘Social Class’ we learn how each individual views this subject:

“The nonsense and folly of people’s stepping out of their rank and trying to appear above themselves makes me think it right to give you a hint, Fanny, now that you are going into company without any of us; and I do beseech and entreat you not to be putting yourself forward, and talking and giving your opinion as if you were one of your cousins.” – Mrs Norris, Chapter 23 

This statement proves that although you’re of a high status it does not necessarily mean you have high morals. Throughout the novel Mrs. Norris’ principle in life seems to be mistreating Fanny with just being as unpleasant as possible. The use of her character throughout the novel gives the common thoughts on social “rank” for the time period.

However, a Marxist reader would respond to the different social classes that are conveyed by the characters in Mansfield Park as a much wider representation of the problems which are going on in Britain during the time, or even now, which regards how people act considering the class system. For instance, in the opening chapter there is evidence of both the middle and upper classes exploiting the working class and attempting to highlight their own moral authority through actions which include being the people who would pay for the upkeep of people. As for ‘looking better’, both the upper and middle class would prove their selfishness and arrogance of which Austen believed they had and therefore wrote about in her novel ‘Mansfield Park’.

Easter 1916 – W.B Yeats.

‘Easter 1916’ by William Butler Yeats (W.B Yeats) is along with ‘September 1913’ a political poem. Yeats describes an Irish immature revolutionary plan, which became unsuccessful to overthrow the British reign in Ireland. Yeats believed that these heroic figures who fought for the freedom should be remembered and thus decided to write about them to share his pride with the world.

Interestingly enough the structure of this poem is very exciting. There are sixteen lines in both the first and third stanza hence ‘1916’. In the second and fourth stanza there are twenty four hence ’24th April’ the date the rising began. Lastly there are four stanza’s as April is the fourth month.

The first verse reflects the point of view of a flâneur (French: Meaning – ”Stroller”). The very first observation that is made obvious is the “vivid faces” these vivid faces are those of the youthful idealists of whom have the ambition to change the future of Ireland.

He then moves on to state “polite meaningless words” this highlights his patronising attitude towards those normal day average people who are “from counter or desk”. He shows no interest in these “grey” people consequently he greets them with a meaningless “nod of the head” or words of formality without any significance.

In the second stanza Yeats describes the story of people who participated in the Irish Revolution. A specific person who he makes reference to is John MacBride who was with the love of his life, but also “had done most bitter wrong // To some who are near my heard.” which portrays that he was in fact very abusive to Maud Gonne. However he puts his own emotions to one side as “He, too, has resigned his part”. Moreover, just after he names a few revolutionists he writes “casual comedy”, which gives the message that human life is extremely unvalued and leaves the question: “All these people died for what?“ engraved in many minds.

Throughout the third verse his main point is nature. The repetition of “stone“ throughout this verse is very important as when thrown into a stream a stone displaces water and the natural order of things; the revolutionaries do the same thing, “a stone to trouble the living stream”. However the summary of this verse is that it gives the message that nature lives in the moment, but the natural order of things will soon be destroyed. Lastly in the third verse the last line is different and states “The stone’s in the midst of all” is the stone: disruption; strength or Ireland?

In the final verse Yeats does a final count of the revolutionaries of who fought in this battle. At first people were anonymous, but later identified by name so that they are remembered and are not easily forgotten.

Lastly throughout the entire poem three of four versus all end with “A terrible beauty is born”, which is an oxymoron as it fits all the different views in each stanza together, also it reminds the reader of the real issues of fighting.

In conclusion, these fighters will live forever inspiring future revolutionaries. Furthermore, the true terrible beauty is in fact the revolutionaries themselves as they are the true reason why so many deceased and will continue to decease; the reason why both the ‘Easter Rising’ began, and so many more will continue as Ireland still have not gained full independence.