Social Class and Stratification in the Edwardian Era as Portrayed in Forster’s A Room With A View

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the representation of class and social stratification in Edwardian England as shown in E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View, using Peter Saunders’ theory of class and social stratification as its analytical framework. The methodology involved a literary analysis of the novel, focusing on character portrayal and social interactions to examine how class divisions were showed and critiqued. The results showed that the novel intricately portrayed the layered nature of social stratification. Furthermore, the working class, represented by Mr. Emerson, was economically and socially marginalized. The middle class, exemplified by the Honeychurch family, navigated the tension between societal expectations and personal aspirations, particularly through Lucy’s inner conflict. The upper class was personified in Cecil Vyse, who embodied aristocratic entitlement and exclusivity. These stratifications manifested in social norms such as marriage, functioning to preserve or elevate social status, and in class exclusivity, evident in Cecil’s elitism. In addition, class snobbery appeared in patronizing attitudes toward the lower class, framing kindness as condescension rather than equality. Through these representations, Forster critiqued rigid class hierarchies and promoted ideals of authenticity, equality, and personal freedom.

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