Anti-Semitism in Anthony Trollopes Palliser Novels :: Anthony Trollope Palliser Novels Essays

Anti-Semitism in Anthony Trollopes P anyiser Novels Because Anthony Trollope belonged to the Liberal party, nonp beil would assume that he would be less touch with the glorification of a specific social class to the neglect of whatsoever other. Yet, of the major novelists of the Victorian period, none was more infatuated with the code of the world than Trollope. His governmental beliefs, which might seem to conflict with those of a Liberal, are lift out defined by his own description of himself as an advanced, but til now a conservative Liberal (Autobiography 291). This left-centrist attitude serves as the basis for the deterrent example standard of his novels and is embodied by the various gentlemen in his work. Trollope idealized the valet de chambre more than Fielding and as much as, if non more, than Thackeray. The characters in his novels essay each other by their interpretations of this standard, which may or may not coincide with Trollopes definition. This discre pancy between Trollope and his characters is very interesting, but in slightly instances dissolve be misleading.Nineteenth-century Europe, sparked by the Enlightenments notion of equality, underwent numerous revolutions, both political and social. In England this was represented by the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832 and the renounce of the Corn Laws. Both were huge victories for the Liberal, then Whig, cause, guessless of which party was in control of the government at the time. Trollopes stance on such bring ons can be seen in his treatment of similar measures, some fictitious, others real, in the novels that appoint his Palliser series. In England during this time, the quest for equal treatment under the law for all residents was gaining popularity. Bills were passed which legalized Catholicism and which made citizens of the Jews living in England. As anti-semitism was a more thorough prejudice than that of Anglicans against other Protestants and Catholics, it is of inte rest to examine how one of the more, if not the most, realistic novelists of the time portrayed English Jews.As Trollope chiefly concerns himself with upper-class society, social movement is necessarily a major issue in his novels, and added to his predisposition to prejudicial class awareness, Trollope behaves very questionably with regard to his non-English characters, particularly his Jewish characters. European Jews have consistently been oppressed throughout their history on the continent. The most widespread slurs used against Jews, then and now, are implanted in resentment of the fact that Jews, in Europe, have historically found employment in banking, pawnbroking, and usury.