Mr. Standfast · Theme
Class and Social Division
How Mr. Standfast develops Class and Social Division.
The setting of Biggleswick and the portrayal of intellectuals, pacifists, and working-class characters (like Andrew Amos) reveal tensions between different social groups, with the narrative often favoring practical, 'sound' common sense over abstract theorizing.
Where it surfaces
- The Village Named Morality
The pacifists are portrayed as detached intellectuals, contrasting with the soldiers 'sweating blood' at the front, highlighting a social rift.
- The Reflections of a Cured Dyspeptic
Blenkiron's undercover work among workers and the discussion of class war highlight social divisions in wartime Britain.
- IV: Andrew Amos
The political meeting highlights class tensions, with the speaker attacking the rich, the middle classes, and army officers, leading to violent conflict with soldiers.
- VI: The Skirts of the Coolin
The fisherman's lament over historical land clearances highlights the deep social and economic divides between lairds and crofters.