Social Class and Inequality

Stevenson contrasts the lives of the poor, such as laborers and pedlars, with the wealthy, highlighting class distinctions, the dignity of work, and the moral discomfort of privilege when faced with others' hardship.

The narrator's discomfort at eating better food than the laborers underscores the theme of class distinction and the moral unease of privilege.

The narrator reflects on being mistaken for a pedlar and compares his own station with that of the Gilliards, noting that in the alehouse kitchen they all cut a similar figure.

The barge couple's pride in their modest life contrasts with English whining about poverty, reflecting different attitudes toward social status and fortune.

The landlord's proud declaration 'I am a proletarian' and the contrast between the workman's life and the peasant's life highlight class consciousness and the dignity of labor.