Hobson's Choice Themes
Plan for 20 mark question
- Created by: harry trevvett
- Created on: 26-05-16 17:08
View mindmap
- Themes in Hobson's Choice
- Historical, social & cultural contexts
- Victorian Era
- Expectations of men were to provide shelter & support for the wife, so be relied on for wealth, status etc
- Expectations of women were to look pretty, attractive and to be lady like
- Middle Class was Hobson's status
- Status determined by Maggie who works hard - social status upside down?
- Maggie is expected to be a lady - is she?
- Hobson's status could be lower at the end of the novel: alcoholism, suicidal, then Willie's status vastly improving...
- Status determined by Maggie who works hard - social status upside down?
- Victorian Era
- How is the setting important?
- Victorian era
- Industrialising
- this created Middle classes
- formed a social hierarchy which is seen clearly in the book
- Industrialising
- Lancashire
- compared to other areas is not posh!
- not as well educated, rougher
- compared to other areas is not posh!
- Posh area of the town
- Does Maggie suit it?
- She is not ladylike, compared to her sisters: who dress to attract attention and care about appearance
- Does Maggie suit it?
- Victorian era
- Impact of choices/ decisions
- Maggies decisions affect her future: she chooses Will, so has success, riches etc
- Alice & Vickey shoose gentlemen, who are already successful, they don't have to work
- hobson choosing to turn to alcohol means that he has to submit to Maggie, otherwise he will die
- What does Brighouse think women should be like?
- He thinks women should be like Maggie: in the way that they are flexible & practical
- He wants them to be of a contrast to Alice & Vickey who he portrays in a negative way - they are proud, selfish and changeable
- Like Mrs Hepworth; she is upper calss - and needn't be kind, nonetheless she is generous and respectful of Maggie &
- She's polite and not proud - she's a minor character with a big influence - without her money would Willie & Maggie have been able to set up their shop?
- Does Brighouse like Maggie?
- Yes! She is presented as a contrast to characters in a positive way
- she is used to criticise the ways of the other characters in the way that she is: humble, unladylike, kind, un selfish, loving ...
- She's not greedy, she is pragmatic, practical and makes everyone benefit from her doings
- She is a useful person to have around - A&V cant even add up!
- How is social status presented?
- Willi: who is a workman, he works under the floorman: Tubby; Will at the start is talented at his job, is described as a 'rabbit' and is v nervous.
- At the end he is confident & assertive, the most sucessful
- His father works in the workhouse: a pauper, no income, the criminal underclass
- maybe, which is why Hobson doesn't approve of the marriage
- Hobson's: Middle clasMaggie s, Maggie works for it, does Hobson? Daughters want to make higher class husbands - Maggie wants a hard worker, and looks for talent - rather than social status
- Willi: who is a workman, he works under the floorman: Tubby; Will at the start is talented at his job, is described as a 'rabbit' and is v nervous.
- What are the qualities of a successful business?
- Teamwork: shown with Maggie & Willie
- "My brains and your hands will make a working partnership."
- Skills: Will's talent & Maggie's organisation
- Contrast to this shown in Alice, who can't even spell!
- Quick thinking
- E.g. when Albert comes in courting Alice, she immediately asks him what he wants
- Knowing the location of things: people are in a rush, knowledge needed, which A&V haven't got
- Teamwork: shown with Maggie & Willie
- How is feminism presented?
- Alice & Vickey represent true femininism: clothes, character, appearance, attraction, romance ...
- Maggie represents a contrast to this way; in a way she almost 'runs' the house - ensuring everything is in order, arranging her marridge
- She shows resistance to the patriarchy
- Mrs Hepworth represents true feminism; she is so polite, courterous etc...
- How is transformation & change presented?
- Hobson's changes: he is relatively success at the start, but then alcoholism takes over, he has to submit to Maggie, status dampened
- Maggie doesn't really change, which shows her consistancy
- Willie goes from being a workman to an employer/partner, he can, he can read&write, he has authority and asserts it ...
- What makes this play a Lancashire comedy?
- Will has unintentional humour: telling Hobson that it would be great to have the name in the paper...
- Maggie's actions: the way she treats people - telling a man he's to marry him!
- Hobson's actions: his pomposity - how the audience see Hobson as a negative person by his description, and the way Hobson views himself
- What makes the humour? Accents, "Ey by gum!"
- The transitional class
- Events such as making Fred & Albert do the washing up, hiding in the bedroom
- What is the significance of the title: Hobson's Choice?
- There is actually no choice at all - the outcome was determined
- Hobson chooses to be overcome by alcohol; or is it in him? He then falls into the cellar, which gets him trouble, and then the rest of the family make choices for him
- Willie's choices are made by Maggie - she makes him marry her! She also forces him to read & write
- The title is actually very significant because original Hobson ran a stable - if you rented a horse, you had the next one in line, etc - so you couldn't decide
- So perhaps Hobson isn't able to make decisions for himself? Maggie has to make them for him
- Victorian life for women was chosen for them - although not for Maggie?
- Historical, social & cultural contexts
Similar English Literature resources:
Teacher recommended
Comments
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report