1. Introduction
Anthony Trollope, together with his works, gives us a typical example of Victorian commodity culture which he himself recognised by comparing himself with shoemakers, carpenters and other production workers. He saw writing novels as satisfying the demands of the consumers (the readers of his novels) and generation of products (his books) for the market. After his death, Trollope's autobiography was published, after which his reputation suffered a lot because people found out that he worked after a strict production schedule and, furthermore, he admitted that he wrote for money. He also called the dislike of money false and misplaced. Other writers criticised his point of view because they claimed that a true writer should not be concerned with money. Trollope, however, maintained accounting books in which he noted the number of pages he wrote, how many pages he wrote per hour etc. He saw himself as a producer of “marketable commodities” and a typical example of this is his novel The Eustace Diamonds, which is itself a satirical representation of the circulation of commodities. In the novel, the character of Lizzie Eustace, a young widow, refuses to return a precious diamond necklace given to her by her late husband to his family, who claims it is a family heirloom and, therefore, part of their property. She tries everything she can to keep the diamonds, from faking a theft of the diamonds to trying to persuade and even blackmail several men into marrying her and, thus, protecting her from the law. She even commits perjury after the real theft of the diamonds. What follows is an account of the legal debate about whether the necklace is an heirloom or paraphernalia and the social activity connected to the debate, which is stimulated by desires, intrigues and social exchange. And it is not only the necklace that is considered as part of the circulation of commodities in the novel, but the women who are eligible for marriage are also treated in the same way. Those are Lizzie, Lucy and Lucinda – their similar names already suggest that they represent three aspects of the same topic, which is the commodification of women in the marriage market.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Mercenary Marriage
3. Women as Commodities
3.1 Lucy Morris
3.2 Lucinda Roanoke
3.3 Lizzie Eustace
4. Mercenary Marriage for Men
4.1 Frank Greystock
4.2 Lord Fawn
5. Society and Consumerism
5.1 Gift – Exchange
6. The Heirloom Question
6.1 Women as Paraphernalia and Heirlooms
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines how Anthony Trollope’s novel The Eustace Diamonds reflects the pervasive impact of Victorian commodity culture on social relationships and the institution of marriage. It investigates the parallels between the commodification of objects, such as diamonds, and the treatment of women as tradable assets within the Victorian marriage market, analyzing how economic interests often overshadowed emotional bonds.
- The depiction of marriage as a mercenary contract and a financial transaction.
- The commodification of female characters and their roles as objects of exchange.
- The influence of Victorian consumerism on societal values and individual status.
- The legal and metaphorical distinction between "heirlooms" and "paraphernalia."
- The role of public opinion and reputation in determining market value.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Lucy Morris
Lucy Morris is neither especially beautiful nor rich is aware that she is not an attractive commodity in the marriage market. However, she does want to be valued for what she is, and that is an honest and intelligent woman. Because of her circumstances, her fiancée, Frank Greystock, neglects her, ceases to communicate with her for several months and behaves very badly towards her. In spite of his rejection she still believes in him - and she knows she has to - because if she does not marry him, she has to remain a governess. The best option she has is to ignore what Frank has done to her and so she keeps telling herself that “there was no sin to be forgiven. Everything was, and had been, just as it ought to be.” She also tells the Fawns that Frank’s family has forgiven her for not being rich or beautiful, and that he has accepted her as his bride. Lucy is presented as the novel’s moral heroine and is often referred to as being “good as gold” and a real “treasure”. She represents truth and depth and she does not avail herself to the market for sale in the same way as Lizzie, but gives herself as a “gift” to Frank. She does not become subject to the changes in the market by participating in the same mode of commodity exchange but provides an alternative to that model. However, by giving herself as a gift to Frank, she is still represented as part of the commodity culture. In the novel, metaphors of gift, theft, property, real and fake jewels are used in order to represent honest women and deceitful women. They obtain a similar position as paraphernalia and heirlooms. Bad women occupy the “zone of circulation”, whereas good women remain in the “zone of possession”. According to this pattern, Lucy would be a possessed heirloom because she resists her feelings of doubts and upholds her love for Frank.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the Victorian context of commodity culture and presents the novel as a satire on the circulation of commodities and the commodification of women in marriage.
2. The Mercenary Marriage: This section explores how marriage is equated to a market where women are sold or trade themselves for status, highlighting the lack of property rights for married women.
3. Women as Commodities: The chapter analyzes the distinct fates of three heroines—Lucy, Lucinda, and Lizzie—as they navigate the pressures of a society that views them as objects of exchange.
4. Mercenary Marriage for Men: This part examines how male characters like Frank Greystock and Lord Fawn are driven by professional and economic ambitions to seek wealthy partners, often at the expense of their personal desires.
5. Society and Consumerism: The analysis focuses on how the rise of consumer culture and the public's appetite for sensationalism influence individual behavior and the perceived value of persons and objects.
6. The Heirloom Question: This chapter investigates the legal distinction between heirlooms and paraphernalia and how these terms function as metaphors for the characters' status within society.
7. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing that in Victorian society, human identity was often inextricably linked to and defined by the commodities one owned.
Keywords
Anthony Trollope, The Eustace Diamonds, Victorian era, commodity culture, marriage market, commodification, consumerism, heirloom, paraphernalia, social status, exchange theory, gender roles, wealth, reputation, literary criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how Anthony Trollope’s The Eustace Diamonds critiques Victorian commodity culture by demonstrating how society treated women and marriage as market-based transactions.
What are the primary themes discussed in the analysis?
The central themes include the commodification of women, the mercenary nature of Victorian marriage, the influence of consumerism on human relationships, and the symbolic use of objects like diamonds.
What is the main goal or research question of this study?
The study aims to demonstrate how the concept of commodity culture permeates the social lives and marriage decisions within the novel, showing that individual value was often determined by property and economic status.
Which scientific methods are utilized in this work?
The author uses literary analysis, applying socio-historical contexts and theories of exchange (such as those by Marcel Mauss) to interpret the novel's satirical depiction of Victorian society.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The body covers the mercenary nature of marriages for both men and women, the impact of consumerism on public opinion, the legal debate surrounding heirlooms and paraphernalia, and case studies of specific characters.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include commodity culture, marriage market, Victorian literature, commodification of women, and the heirloom vs. paraphernalia dichotomy.
How does the distinction between "heirloom" and "paraphernalia" shape the novel’s plot?
The distinction determines the legal ownership of the diamond necklace. If it is an heirloom, it belongs to the male-led family estate; if it is paraphernalia, it remains the widow's property to sell or exchange, thus defining the protagonist's power and autonomy.
Why does the author consider Lizzie Eustace the "real heroine" of the novel?
While Lucy represents traditional morality, the author argues that Lizzie is the "real heroine" because she proactively navigates a system that treats her as a commodity, using her limited agency to survive within the constraints of Victorian consumer culture.
- Citation du texte
- Kristina Richter (Auteur), 2005, Anthony Trollope's 'The Eustace Diamonds' - The Effects of Commodity Culture on Social Life and Marriage, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/166039
