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Cakes and Ale · Theme

Social Class and Snobbery

How Cakes and Ale develops 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.

Where it surfaces

  • III

    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.

  • VII

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

  • Chapter VIII

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

  • IX

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

  • The Flight of the Driffields

    The narrator's uncle and aunt view the Driffields as 'adventurers' and 'improper associates,' highlighting class prejudices and the importance of social standing.

  • Chapter XIII

    The narrator's initial embarrassment about the Driffields' unpaid bills and his observation of their 'decayed respectability' highlight class sensitivities.

  • XIV

    Mrs. Barton Trafford's condescension towards Rosie, and the narrator's satirical take on the nobility's involvement in literature.

  • Chapter XVII

    The narrator's disdain for Jack Kuyper's vulgarity and wealth highlights class-based snobbery, as he feels threatened by Kuyper's material display.

  • Chapter XX

    The scandal affects people of different social standings, from the churchwarden to the small savers, showing the interconnectedness of class and reputation.

  • XXIII

    The narrator's choice of the Bear and Key over the Marine Hotel, and his interactions with the inn staff, highlight class distinctions and the narrator's own snobbery.