What Evidence Is There of Conflict and/or Harmony Between the Classes in Mid-Victorian Britain, as Illustrated in Ford Maddox Brown’s Work (1865) and Charles Dickens’ on Strike (1854)?

What evidence is there of conflict and/or harmony between the classes in mid-Victorian Britain, as illustrated in Ford Maddox Brown’s Work (1865) and Charles Dickens’ On Strike (1854)?

Ford Maddox Brown’s Work (1865) and Charles Dickens’ On Strike (1854) present an insight into the relationship that existed between the classes in mid-Victorian Britain, with both texts illustrating evidence of conflict and harmony. Brown’s article interprets his painting ‘Work’ - a suburban scene, depicting a group of workmen surrounded by characters representing every social class of the time - whereas Dickens’ report describes the writer’s visit to Preston during a strike by cotton workers. It is important, for the purpose of this essay, to clarify the context of the word ‘conflict’ as a disagreement - or conflict of ideals - and ‘harmony’ as living peacefully, though having different ideals. Evidence from both texts will show that conflict and harmony both existed in mid-Victorian Britain between the classes, where class is defined by type or lack of employment and social status.

Evidence of conflict is presented from the very outset of Dickens’ report when, during the train ride to Preston, a fellow gentleman traveller states ‘a man must either be a friend to the Masters or a friend to the Hands’[1]. This sets the tone for the rest of Dickens’ report as it suggests that ‘sides’ must be taken between the middle class management and the low class workers, in turn suggesting that conflict exists. The very fact that the cotton workers were on strike, and the use of some combative language in the workers’ song: ‘We war these Preston Cotton Lords’[2], also illustrates that conflict was evident between the classes. The workers considered themselves as the ‘down trodden and insulted serfs of their Employers’[3], with the wealth they helped to create ‘being used to crush’[4] them. The low class workers are also described as ‘those whom the rich and wealthy sought to destroy’[5]....