The Portrayal of Middle Class in G. Orwell’s «Keep the Aspidistra Flying»
Maria Vitalevna Ivanova
Докладчик
студент 4 курса
Московский городской педагогический университет
Московский городской педагогический университет
Ключевые слова, аннотация
The text examines hypocrisy in English society, focusing on K. Fox’s view of it as self-deception rather than intentional deceit. It highlights the subtle, everyday markers of class and the middle class’s efforts to maintain a veneer of gentility despite financial struggles. Drawing on G. Orwell’s «Keep the Aspidistra Flying», the text critiques the obsession with outward appearances and social status, revealing the deep-rooted hypocrisy in English cultural norms.
Тезисы
Keywords: hypocrisy; class system; middle class; social pretensions; self-deception
The research explores the concept of hypocrisy within the English middle class, focusing on its social manifestations and underlying causes. The primary goal is to examine the subtle distinctions of class within English society, especially those based on external behaviours, preferences, and social interactions, as opposed to mere economic status. The material draws from literary works such as G. Orwell’s «Keep the Aspidistra Flying» and K. Fox’s «Watching the English», integrating theoretical and empirical perspectives on English social practices. The research applies a qualitative analysis of these sources, alongside observations of common middle-class behaviours. Key findings indicate that English hypocrisy, particularly among the middle class, is largely a result of social anxiety and the desire to maintain upward mobility, even when financial means are lacking. The concept of «adjacent class problem» highlights the fear of being mistaken for someone from a lower class, which leads to efforts to distinguish oneself through manners, language, and consumption patterns. Furthermore, middle-class individuals often engage in pretensions that reflect their aspirations for «gentility» and avoidance of lower-class behaviours, such as using certain expressions or displaying particular tastes. Orwell's and Fox’s work also reveal that these pretensions are less about income than about perceived refinement in outward behaviour. Moreover, the research underscores the role of education in maintaining class status, where families sacrifice financial stability to uphold the appearance of respectability. The social and psychological mechanisms discussed reveal that the middle class’s fixation on outward appearances creates a pervasive culture of hypocrisy, where maintaining an image of «proper» behaviour outweighs genuine personal preference. The study concludes by suggesting that the persistent hypocrisy and class anxiety within the middle class reflect broader societal issues, with far-reaching implications for social dynamics in England.
The research explores the concept of hypocrisy within the English middle class, focusing on its social manifestations and underlying causes. The primary goal is to examine the subtle distinctions of class within English society, especially those based on external behaviours, preferences, and social interactions, as opposed to mere economic status. The material draws from literary works such as G. Orwell’s «Keep the Aspidistra Flying» and K. Fox’s «Watching the English», integrating theoretical and empirical perspectives on English social practices. The research applies a qualitative analysis of these sources, alongside observations of common middle-class behaviours. Key findings indicate that English hypocrisy, particularly among the middle class, is largely a result of social anxiety and the desire to maintain upward mobility, even when financial means are lacking. The concept of «adjacent class problem» highlights the fear of being mistaken for someone from a lower class, which leads to efforts to distinguish oneself through manners, language, and consumption patterns. Furthermore, middle-class individuals often engage in pretensions that reflect their aspirations for «gentility» and avoidance of lower-class behaviours, such as using certain expressions or displaying particular tastes. Orwell's and Fox’s work also reveal that these pretensions are less about income than about perceived refinement in outward behaviour. Moreover, the research underscores the role of education in maintaining class status, where families sacrifice financial stability to uphold the appearance of respectability. The social and psychological mechanisms discussed reveal that the middle class’s fixation on outward appearances creates a pervasive culture of hypocrisy, where maintaining an image of «proper» behaviour outweighs genuine personal preference. The study concludes by suggesting that the persistent hypocrisy and class anxiety within the middle class reflect broader societal issues, with far-reaching implications for social dynamics in England.