An Analysis of Social Class in English Literature: Key Themes

This essay delves into the theme of social class in English literature, highlighting its significance through examples from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's Hamlet, and Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It examines how social class influences character portrayal, power dynamics, and societal hierarchies. The analysis reveals Chaucer's keen awareness of the class system in Canterbury Tales, where characters' social standing determines their power and lifestyle. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen illustrates how social class affects marriage prospects and creates prejudice among characters. Shakespeare's Hamlet explores class oppression, particularly how Hamlet's noble status shapes his actions and perceptions. The essay concludes that social class is a prevalent theme, shaping character relationships, cultural values, and conflicts between different social strata, reflecting societal beliefs and power structures.

Running head: SOCIAL CLASS
Social Class
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1SOCIAL CLASS
Division of social class is one of the most noticeable factor in English literature. In the
male dominated social context, the women had been presented prominently by the author of
every ages. The notion of social class is one of the most common themes in English literature.
This is the basically the medium of dividing people (Chaucer and Ellis 2014). Present paper will
shade light on the way, through which social class had become an emerging factor in English
literature. Instances will be given from literary pieces like Canterbury tales by Chaucer, Hamlet
by Shakespeare and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen in order to expand the argument.
Dividing people in accordance with social class is the most prominent concept in English
literature. The power of people is also being determined by social class. From the early 13th
century, social class had remained a significant factor in English literature. The very notion of
social class is extremely evident in Canterbury tales by Chaucer. The societal hierarchy can be
seen in this literary piece. It is quite evident in Canterbury tales that, Chaucer was extremely
conscious about the class system. In this text, the true picture of British society had been
portrayed by Chaucer with utmost efficiency. The quote “A KNIGHT there was and that a
worthy man/ That from the time that he first began/ To riden out, he loved chivalry, / Truth
and honóur, freedom and courtesy” ((Chaucer and Ellis 2014) from Canterbury tales is needed
to be considered in this context, in which the notion of social class is extremely evident. Through
this quote, Chaucer had tried to show how the power of people is also being determined by social
class. Here, the knight belongs from highest social standing and bestowed with supreme power in
the society. According to Chaucer, the knight basically belonged from ruling class, who with the
assistance of his courage and courtesy had achieved such position in the society. The life style of
fashionable ladies of the society of that time had also been highlighted in the quote “There was
also a nun, a PRIORESS, /That of her smiling was full simple and coy. / Her greatest oath

2SOCIAL CLASS
was but by Saint Eloy,/ And she was cleped Madame Eglantine./ Full well she sang the service
divine/ Entuned in her nose full seemely/ And French she spoke full fair and fetisly” (Chaucer
and Ellis 2014). Here Prioress had been described as a fashionable convent. She is an extremely
charming lady, who is highly fashionable and sensitive towards protecting animal rights.
As per English literature, class structure plays a major role in determining a marriage.
This ideology is evident in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, where the author had showed how
marriage between two people is being determined by their social background (Austen 1981). The
very title of the novel shows the prejudice among human mind regarding class structure.
Demeaning someone due to their social class is an evident theme in pride and prejudice. This can
be seen in the line, “low connections,". Here Elizabeth and Jane Bennett are being criticized by
Bingley sisters due their lower social position. Social class is one of the major issues among the
characters of Pride and Prejudice, which is also strengthening problems among the characters.
The line “I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as
quite fixed here”, (Austen 1981) shows that every characters in the novel are extremely
conscious about their background along with position in the society.
Class oppression by the higher class towards middle and lower class is another major
theme of English literature. The ideology of class oppression is one of the most prominent
themes of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The central character of the play, Hamlet belonged from the
Kingdom of Denmark, who is typically a noble and well-educated person. Such noble status had
made him believe that he can do everything without any worry (Shakespeare et al. 1948). The
very phrase, “life at court” highlights Elizabethan period, in which Hamlet has been written. The
line “keeps them like an apple in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed to be last swallowed”,
shows how the characters of noble society lack transparency.

3SOCIAL CLASS
Based on the discussion, it can be said that, division in between social class is an
extremely common theme in English literature. Believe among society regarding characters had
been presented through the relationship between characters. Class conflict in between aristocrat
and middle class is extremely profound in English literature. According to most of the authors,
the culture of people is determined by their social background.

4SOCIAL CLASS
References:
Austen, J., 1981. Pride and prejudice. Bantam Classics.
Chaucer, G. and Ellis, S., 2014. Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales. Routledge.
Shakespeare, W., Olivier, L. and Simmons, J., 1948. Hamlet. University Press.