The Go Between

A detailed Summary of The Go Between

How Does Hartley suggest the differences between social classes in the Go-Between?

L.P Hartley's 'The Go-Between' is a novel in which class distinction plays a major part. Many of the events that occur within the course of the novel demonstrate these distinctions and the way in which society's perceptions and the class structure govern the actions of Hartley's characters. Hartley does not merely suggest class differences, but goes as far as to make explicit allusions to the rigid social structure of the period.

Hartley uses the social metamorphosis of his protagonist, Leo Colston, as a vehicle for expressing the power of the class structure over society's actions. References to the subject of class range from the evident, such as differences in clothing, to the more complex sub-textual elements of the interaction between characters. One example of a situation in which the distinction between the classes is made particularly clear can be seen in the cricket match and another in the relationship between Marian and Ted.

The most striking feature of the cricket match is the difference between the clothing of the participants. The villagers wear either their working clothes or some just take off their coats and play in their nor

There is also a difference between their styles of play. The village team is prepared to hit the ball with no real style, just with power. An example of this is shown in the innings of Ted Burgess, when he is at the crease as soon as a ball comes close to him, he thumps it away. The Hall team play with a sense of decorum, they play the correct strokes and look great. An example of this is shown in the innings of Lord Trimingham.

Also the hall team consists of gentlemen and the servants this meant the servants of the hall team are playing against their equals in the village team.

Later on someone asks Leo whether he has any summer clothes to wear but defending himself he says he isn't hot. Marian comes to his rescue by offering to take him to Norwich to buy a summer suit, but the real reason she wants to go is to see Ted. The money doesn't matter to Marian. As long as he wears the appropriate clothes, they even go to an expensive shop "Challow and Crawshay," Denys comments on this shop by saying "They're much the best" He only says this because Lord Trimingham goes there to buy his ties and because Denys is a snob. When Leo goes to Norwich he comments on how he has never been to a hotel. "We lunched at the Maid's Head in Wensum Street, and this was a great occasion for me, for even when my father was alive it was a great extravagance to go to a hotel: if we went out for a meal it was always to a restaurant." This was a special occasion for Leo but the Maudsleys always went to a hotel for meals.

In conclusion I have shown that Hartley uses many different ways to suggest the differences between social classes, illustrating this with several situations in which the two extremes of the class spectrum, the working class and the gentry, are juxtaposed. Examples of this can be found in both the cricket match and the party afterwards. Hartley also shows the different attitudes of the classes towards money, housing, and clothes in order to illustrate the differences between their beliefs. The most telling distinction, in my opinion, is the relationship between Marian and Ted. All of the other factors illustrate the class difference but their relationship shows that despite their differences they can still be together.

mal clothes. Meanwhile the members of the Hall team are respectably attired, in their cricket whites and with appropriate equipment. Leo likens this difference to the Boer War, "The village team were like the Boers, who did not have much in the ways of equipment by our standards, but could give a good account of themselves," (page 117) (The Boers were an army with no uniform).

Not only is there a contest going on between the hall and the villagers, but there also seemed to be some rivalry between Ted Burgess and Lord Trimingham. They both seem to be trying to impress Marian but are equal unt

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Marian Ted, Lord Trimingham, Heavenly Bodies, Lord Trimingham's, LP Hartley's, Hartley Marcus', Brandham Hall, Leo Colston, Boer War, Viscount Trimingham, lord trimingham, cricket match, brandham hall, marian ted, hall team, relationship marian ted, example shown, relationship marian, social classes, lower class, village team, differences social classes, band round hat, example shown innings, hartley suggest differences,

Approximate Word count = 1910
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English