Society and the Use of Titles in Desmond

Society and the Use of Titles

One of the most important themes that I noticed in Charlotte Smith’s Desmond is that of the complicated relationship of a society with titles and class divisions.  When Desmond is traveling he encounters Mrs. Fairfax, who believes that titles are important. She says “[a] title is as much a person’s property as his estate; and, in my mind, one might as well be taken away as another- and to lose one’s very birthright, by a mob too, of vulgar creatures” (73). She is fearful that these ideas which are currently contributing the French Revolution and general unrest could come to England and cause unrest.  Mrs. Fairfax represents the people who were still happy with the status quo, the people who Smith is displeased with.  She see the revolution as “horrid cruelty and injustice” (73) rather than an opportunity for positive change.  In order to counter Mrs. Fairfax’s claims, Desmond proposes that the people are raised in society based purely on merit, meaning that only the truly noble would have elevated status.  Desmond asks if a Lord would be “less agreeable in his manners, less refined in his conversation, less learned, less worthy, less respectful” (74) if he were to lose his title, which only further upsets her.

As Desmond spends more time abroad and is enlightened in many ways, he becomes more cynical in his approach to the nobility and use of titles.  This is extremely evident when he writes a letter to Mr. Bethel from Calais, France.  He reflects on the state of Parisian neighborhoods and their lack of magnificent carriages, symbolizing the economic equalization of France since the Revolution.  Desmond is upset by the fact that there are people who are displeased with this levelling of society and says “[c]ertainly, it is a great misfortune to the nobility to be deprived of the invaluable privilege of believing themselves of a superior species, and to be compelled to learn that they are men” (89).  It’s clear that in France the existence of nobility and a reigning class was very unpopular, but  the same sentiment was never terribly popular in England.  Even now, over 200 years later, the British still actively use titles and most of the people are supportive of that.  Additionally, a majority of British citizens are happy to keep the monarchy.  This stark difference between societies that are so close geographically and even similar in economic success was surprising to me and I found it rather interesting.

This link talks more about the structure of the British title system, but uses modern day examples like Queen Elizabeth and William to help explain it.

http://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Guide-British-Royal-Titles-12059086

Discussion Questions:

Why do you think the British system is so much different from the French?  These sentiments can even be seen with the some of the characters in Desmond, like Mrs Fairfax.  

Do you think Waverly is intended to represent the noble youth in Britain?  If he is, then what is Smith trying to say about the British nobility?

Do you think that if conservative British people were to have traveled to France around the time of the Revolution that they too would have gotten swept up into the want for change or is there something inherently British that makes many of them happy with the status quo?