CLASS AND POLITICS

Section one- Working class

Q1: List at least ten words that can be associated with the word industry.

Every time I hear about industry, I think of some key words such as economy,
factories and machinery, products, market and final goods and services. I can also associate
the term industry with many branches such as wood, insurance, heavy, hospitality or
automotive and of course many other industries that help the improvement of the economy of
a state.
Q2: Read the passage and underline any words that could be added to the word-list made before.

Reading the passage from the module given to me I can complete my list with other
types of industries such as banking, catering, electronics, light industries, and export. In this
passage we also find out that industry has changed lately due to computers and the rapid
development of production and the contrast between heavy and light industries.
Q1: Read through the three texts and underline any words that you think are significant for an
understanding of how the British working class has changed sine 1957, when the Hoggart passage was
written

The British working class has changed as we can read in the three texts given in the
module. Some key expressions that I would underline in the abstracts are revolution,
replacement of machine operator with computer, declination of heavy industry and increase
of service industry. Other useful words from the second text, that help in the understanding
of this change are working life, several months, practical and theoretical aspects,
advancement, well equipped. All these describe how can someone evolve and improve their
skills working in the heavy industry, and it also presents the process of advancement which
was quite quick in the beginning. The third abstract also contains some important words, such
as earn more, live in a better way, job security, satisfaction, challenging job, advancement
without training. This text describes the needs of a person from the working class, while in
the fifties it was necessary to work for lots of months to gain experience, advance slowly and
get theoretical training, in the eighties these new needs appear which are far more important
than going through a hard training.
Section two- Middle class
Q 1: Read the abstract and re-work it as an advertisement.

The abstract presents the differences of the three classes, the upper class are dukes
and barons who drive the new car, live in mansions and own huge lanes in beautiful places.
The middle class people, and also the speaker of the autobiography, have got carriages and
live in villas surrounded with garden walls maintained by servants and in contrast with the
lower class they can go on holidays.
Re-working the text as an advertisement I would say that a good commercial might be the
presentation of a new villa in Highgate Hill where all the circumstances are given to live a
good life. Another advertisement would be the new car, then the mansions in Millfield Lane.
“Would you like to live in the lap of nature where red squirrels leap the hornbeams? Then
choose Highgate Hill Residence in the sunny and silent Middlesex!”
“Here is the new Delaunay-Bellville! A great achievement for mankind, the earliest motor-
car attempt! You might think that in bottom gear makes a big noise, but it is mostly footsteps
and rustling leaves! Don’t hesitate! Try it now!”
“Would you like to live as Grand Duke Michael or the Burdett-Coutts? Now it’s more
accessible than has ever been! The beautiful green hillocks spoke of a dream world in
Millfield Lane! You can now live next to these mighty estates! Buy your fist villa today!”
Q1: Read the text. Identify any striking similarities or differences between the poem and the prose text.

Both the text and the poem present the middle class as having negative aspects. On
one hand they aren’t “grande bourgeoisie”, in other words they cannot afford the new car for
instance or a big mansion in famous places, instead they have carriages and have green-
fenced villas. On the other hand they are not “wage earners” as they can afford to go on
holidays ant have got servants.
Q1: Look at the statistics. Comment upon them. What do they suggest?

The statistics show us how the payment of different jobs have changed between the
1920’s-1970’s. It is surprising that the manual workers are paid the best, however their hourly
payment has fallen a lot. Another interesting fact is that while in the twenties managers used
to earn less than employers, in the seventies managers earn twice as much as employers.
Clerical workers are also getting way more in the seventies, which suggests that working in
the office became more and more popular. There are only two classes with decrease in their
wages, these are the manual workers and employers. This also suggests how industry has
changed and needs also claimed new services assisted by computer operators. In general we
can observe an increase of wages in Britain, this means that the economy developed and a
better way of life is becoming more and more accessible.
Section three-Upper class
Q1: Read the two passages. What opinions are given about the way the Establishment and the aristocracy
operate or work?

The Establishment and aristocracy are viewed negatively as members can be

corrupted since they can misuse power and concentrate only on social life and entertainment
instead of dealing with serious work. Another issue with the members of aristocracy is that
they are not elected, thus their lifestyle can lead to neglecting professional duties. The idea of
one person knows the other and then problems can be solved through acquaintances is used in
these groups. Another principle based on which these classes work is that membership is
restricted and they usually do not have social connection with lower classes.