The 17th century witnesses the rise of a new social class in England: the middle class. At this time, mainly merchants and traders belong to this community. They are rich, powerful and educated. In The Merry Wives of Windsor, the two middle class families, namely the Fords and the Pages, form the head of the Windsor community and are its leaders. In order to be able to understand the position of this social class in society, it needs to be seen in comparison with the other residents and visitors of the city.
By choosing Windsor as the setting, Shakespeare links the city of Windsor and its independent middle class with the presence of the monarchy. The proximity to Windsor Castle and the siege of the Order of the Garter bring the aristocracy into the play and introduce the authority of the Crown. Due to Fenton’s and Falstaff’s presence in the play, Windsor’s middle class has to face the social class above them and the problems which exist between the two. However, it is not only the aristocracy which helps the Windsor middle class to define and establish themselves but also the foreigners in the play. Therefore, it is important to consider the interactions of the middle class with Parson Evans or Dr. Caius in order to see how far these foreigners differ from the English and how they help the Fords and the Pages to establish themselves in their society and to reconfirm their national identity as well as their position in society.
The use of the term “middle class”, however, is problematic. Since it includes the term “middle”, the question arises of what “middle” actually means, opposed to whom or what this class is the middle and in which context it has to be seen. Since the word “bourgeoisie” has its ethymological origin in the French language and generally designs an inhabitant of a city or town, this word includes the two families who are relevant to this topic. Therefore, the term “bourgeoisie” will be used synonymously in this paper.
Several attempts have been made to define the term. “As Immanuel Wallerstein explains, critics generally define members of the bourgeoisie either culturally – by their style of life and opportunities for consumption – or economically – by their relations to production and opportunities for investment” . The definition which is most suitable for this paper is the one that the bourgeoisie of Renaissance England is “that feudal middle class which was neither nobility nor peasantry”.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The Depiction of the Middle Class
II. 1. How Does the Middle Class Define Itself?
II. 2. The Moral and Ethics of the Middle Class
II. 3. The Wealth of the Middle Class
II. 4. The Self-Esteem of the Middle Class and their Lack of Respect towards the Aristocracy
II. 5. The Rise of Englishness and National Identity
II. 6. Class Synthesis in the Windsor Community
III. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the depiction of the rising middle class in Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor," analyzing how the Ford and Page families establish their social position, moral values, and national identity in relation to the aristocracy and foreign characters.
- Socio-economic identity and self-definition of the Renaissance middle class
- The clash of moral standards between the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy
- The role of wealth and marriage as business strategies
- National identity, xenophobia, and the linguistic construction of "Englishness"
- Class dynamics and the eventual synthesis within the Windsor community
Excerpt from the Book
II. 1. How Does the Middle Class Define Itself?
Some main characteristics of Windsor’s middle class are its wealth, a newly acquired self-esteem and a newly developed definition of an English national identity. This emerging social class knows very well where to place itself on the social scale. Its members know that they are not as prestigious as the aristocracy but are, at the same time, still aware of the fact that their money gives them a lot of power and the possibility to influence the actions of the aristocracy.
Page gives a very good account of where he sees himself and the other members of his social class when it comes to Fenton wanting to marry his daughter. In Act 3 Scene 2, he clearly rejects Fenton as the possible future husband of his daughter Anne. One of the main reasons why the bourgeois rejects Fenton is that he is not a member of his social class but an aristocrat, "he is of too high a region" (3,2,66). Page reasons his rejection through the fact that Fenton belongs to the high aristocracy and he knows that he and his family are not a part of this class. This demonstrates that the bourgeoisie of that time knows that, although being rich and powerful, they are not at the top of the hierarchy.
Furthermore, Page claims that Fenton "knows too much" (3,2,66 f.). The Windsor citizen does not imply that Fenton's school education is too good or that he is too intelligent for his daughter. By saying this he wants to express that the young aristocrat is familiar with courtly behaviour and the company with the aristocracy, whereas him and his family are not. Once again, this shows that he knows that this is not the kind of people the middle class keeps company with.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the rising middle class in the 17th century and introduces the core objectives regarding the analysis of the Ford and Page families.
II. 1. How Does the Middle Class Define Itself?: Explores the socio-economic self-awareness of the middle class, focusing on education, domestic organization, and their rejection of aristocratic suitors.
II. 2. The Moral and Ethics of the Middle Class: Discusses how the middle class prioritizes reputation and traditional morals, particularly regarding adultery and the sanctity of the household.
II. 3. The Wealth of the Middle Class: Analyzes the economic status of the merchants in Windsor and the strategic use of marriage dowries to preserve their fortune against an impoverished aristocracy.
II. 4. The Self-Esteem of the Middle Class and their Lack of Respect towards the Aristocracy: Examines how the bourgeoisie actively defies and humiliates aristocratic figures like Falstaff to assert their social power.
II. 5. The Rise of Englishness and National Identity: Investigates how the middle class uses language and xenophobic stereotypes against foreign characters to reinforce a unified English identity.
II. 6. Class Synthesis in the Windsor Community: Concludes the analysis of class dynamics by illustrating how the final social gatherings represent a reconciliation and synthesis between bourgeois wealth and aristocratic status.
III. Conclusion: Summarizes how the middle class emerges as a triumphant, self-assured entity that successfully navigated the social hierarchies of Renaissance England.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, Middle Class, Bourgeoisie, Aristocracy, Social Identity, National Identity, Englishness, Marriage, Wealth, Reputation, Class Dynamics, Renaissance, Gender Roles, Patriotism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the depiction and self-definition of the middle class in Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" within the context of 17th-century social structures.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The central themes include the interplay between bourgeois wealth and aristocratic power, the importance of middle-class moral standards, the formation of English national identity, and the use of ridicule as a social tool.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how the middle-class families in the play establish their social status and reconfirm their identity by interacting with—and often rejecting—the aristocracy and foreigners.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work employs a literary analysis approach, utilizing historical context and scholarly interpretations to evaluate character interactions, language usage, and symbolic imagery in the play.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the self-definition of the middle class, their moral codes, the significance of their wealth in marriage contracts, their defiance of the aristocracy, their role in constructing national identity, and the eventual class synthesis.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Middle Class, Bourgeoisie, Aristocracy, Social Identity, National Identity, Englishness, Class Dynamics, and Reputation.
How does the author interpret the character of Falstaff?
The author interprets Falstaff as a representative of the impoverished aristocracy who is viewed as a threat to bourgeois wealth and stability, ultimately becoming a target for middle-class humiliation.
Why is the marriage between Fenton and Anne Page considered significant?
It is viewed as a symbolic synthesis of aristocratic status and bourgeois wealth, representing a realignment of social classes within a harmonious national state.
How is the concept of "Englishness" constructed in the play?
The author argues that "Englishness" is constructed through the contrast between the Standard English spoken by the middle class and the foreign linguistic traits of characters like Dr. Caius and Parson Evans, coupled with explicit xenophobic stereotypes.
- Quote paper
- Yvonne Benoit (Author), 2007, The depiction of the middle class in Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/76093
