Social Class and Snobbery

The novel satirizes the rigid English class system, from the provincial snobbery of Blackstable to the literary and aristocratic circles of London, showing how characters like Rosie and Driffield are judged and marginalized for their origins, while others use rank to advance.

The narrator's aunt refuses to call on a rich banker because he is 'in trade', and the narrator himself dismisses Driffield as a 'cad' based on his clothing. These illustrate the rigid social codes of the time.

The narrator's discomfort with the Driffields' openness about their working-class past highlights the rigid class distinctions of the time.

The Driffields are considered 'common' by Blackstable society, and the narrator's uncle and curate look down on them despite their literary merits.

The narrator's initial coldness toward Lord George due to social differences, but he grows to like him despite his vulgarity.