Hobson's Choice: Context (Edexcel GCSE English Literature): Revision Notes

Victorian England and Social Class

• Hobson's Choice is set in 1880s Salford, a time when the British class system was highly rigid. The working class had limited opportunities, while the middle class enjoyed greater respectability and stability.

• Marriage across class lines, such as Maggie's union with Willie, was frowned upon, as demonstrated by Hobson's disdain for Willie's background as a "work-house brat."

• Industrialisation was creating new opportunities, allowing skilled workers like Willie to rise, but traditional hierarchies still dominated society.

Gender Roles in the Victorian Era

• Victorian women were expected to marry, maintain the household, and remain submissive to men. Economic independence for women was rare, and they were often treated as unpaid labour in family businesses, as seen with Hobson's daughters.

• Maggie defies these norms by taking charge of her future, proposing to Willie, and building a successful business. This reflects the beginnings of women challenging societal expectations, a theme Brighouse explores through her character.

Industrialisation and Urban Life

Written During World War I (1915)

Family Dynamics in Victorian Society