The Economic Oppression of The Working-Class People in the Novel North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Maya, Lestari (2023) The Economic Oppression of The Working-Class People in the Novel North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Diploma thesis, Universitas Andalas.

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Abstract

This research analyzes the economic oppressions and the effects to the life of the working-class people in England at industrial era as portrayed in the Victorian novel North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. The research is aimed at explaining how the novel captured the reality of the society at that time. England in Victorian era was developing into industrial country and many cities changed into industrial cities. Therefore, the life of people, which previously was agriculture-base, changed quite significantly. The research is qualitative research. It applies the mimetic approach and the theory of sociology of literature by Alan Swingewood and Diana Laurenson. After analyzing the novel, it is found out that the working-class people in the novel experience several ways of economic oppressions: low wages, inadequate health insurance, employer’s lack of empathy, and the abuse of right to speak. As the result, they live a hard life. They live in poverty and unhealthy working place. Additionally, they grow hopelessness and hatred in their minds. This unhealthy life condition of the society, base on the perspective of mimetic and sociology of literature, is the reflection of the society of the time when the novel was written by Elizabeth Gaskell, which is also considered as her critique toward the life in England in Victorian era when industries grew rapidly. Key words: England, sociology of literature, industrialization, economic oppressions, hard life

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