Class and Social Mobility

Philip's experiences across different social strata—from the vicarage to bohemian Paris to working-class London—highlight the constraints and absurdities of class distinctions and the struggle for financial independence.

The social hierarchy is evident in the Careys' interactions with tradesmen, the churchwarden, and the wealthy Mr. Wilson, who married his cook.

The appointment of Perkins, son of a linendraper, as headmaster challenges the school's rigid class distinctions; the masters' disdain highlights the tension between inherited status and merit.

Mr. Perkins' plan to attract boys from London reflects tensions between traditional provincial values and the desire for social and educational advancement.

The contrast between Philip's comfortable life and Monsieur Ducroz's destitution highlights class disparities.